THE SECRET CHAMBER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5444, 6 February 1889, Page 4

THE SECRET CHAMBER.

CHAPTER XXI

THE TRIAL.

The dreaded assizes caiue on. Jeffreys entered Taunton in the usual state, accompanied by the other judges, ill robed in scarlet, and escorted by a troop of horse. The pageant tilled all hearts with dread, in place of being, us heretofore, an occasion of festivity. He issued orders to bavo tho Court room hung , with red, as a hint that BO mercy was to be shown to those who had dared to revolt against the rule of James Stuart.

Venior was brought up for trial on tho third day of the assizes; Gerald appeared to defend him, but the Judge, after listening to the charges against the prisoner, scarcely allowed las counsel to speak a few sentences before he roared out:

" Stop that, sir. How dare you attempt to defend such a doublo-dyed villain as that ? Take cwu, Mr Advocate, or I shall order you tuidcr arrest yourself. It is treason to speak in defence of a man who is known to have been the personal friend of Monmouth—who landed on these shores with him in armed rebellion against the king, and who is no doubt now plotting new mischief. But I'll take enre of that; I'll deal with him, I'll warrant." Jeffrey's inflamed visagj, coarse features and air of swaggering authority, coupled ■with such insulting langnago, were a ! strange sight in an English court of justice. Gerald respectfully remonstrated: " But, my lord, the law of the land guarantees a man a fair trial for his life, and you refuse to hoar any extenuating cironmstauco. I wish to —' "Go to the d—l with your wishes ! What do I care for them t lam here to punish traitors, not to hear them defended, and that man at the bar is one of the vilest among thorn. Speak another word at your peril: A pretty pass I should come to if every young jackanapes of a lawyer is to take up my time listening to his balderdash. The evidence is dead against tho prisoner. Jurymen, you know your duty, and mark mo, you shall perform it." Frightened by his menacing tonos, the jury hurried out to go through the farce of consulting together, when it was evident that the fate of the prisoner was already decided. Gerald again attempted to speak a few words, but, roused to a pitch of fury, Jeffreys ordered him to be removed from the court.

This mockery of b trial was hut a specimen of hundreds of others, from which men were hurried to their latal doom. Tho jury remained out longer than the judge deemed necessary, and ho again stormed out:

" The case does not admit of five minutes deliberation. Go to them, Mr Sheriff, uud tell them my time is not to bo trifled with in euoh a manner." Thus pressed on, tho jury returned looking ecai ed and bewildered. Tho foremun did not immediately apeak, aud Jeffrey* thundered:

" Come, sir; what have you to cay f Aro you dumb, or have you lost the little sense nature bestowed on you 't"

" My lord," stamiiiored tho man thus addressed, " we find tho prisoner guilty, but recommend him to tho inorcy of the tribunal."

" Mercy i" repeated tho judge, with an ominous grin. " That's an attribute 1 don't patronise where rebels vie concerned , " He drew on the cap of condemnation, arose, and said: " I sentence you, Vernor Methurn, to bo taken to the place of execution to-morrow at eleven o'clock, and there hanged by the neck until you aro dead—dead—dead ! And muy all traitors meet a like fata. Amen !"

Vornor heard tho sentence with more equanimity than might have been expected, and merely bowed his head in submission. He looked around tho court as be arose to leave, and his eyes encountered those of Melchoir, who had purposoly placed himself where ho inu.st »cc him. There, was a flash of exultation in tho eyes of the gipsy, which wae replied to by ono of ncorn and loathing from the condemnfcd man. The news of Vernor's condemnation soon reached those who were so deeply interested in his fate, and Gorald found hia mother and Ethel in the greatest distress. The night was panned in fluctuations of hope and fear ; but at an early hour in tho morning a letter from Vernor was brought to Ethel, which contained these words :

" I have mado my terms, Lady-Bird, and I shall be free to luave this wretched country. In place of being executed thii morning, eorao meaner man, already condemned, will take my place, and 1 shall be removed to the sea coast, where I am to be allowed to escape to a foreign shore. Forget me, Ethel; let me no longer be the shadow on your path. I absolve you from all allegiance to myself, and Gerald cuu easily have you freed by such legal tonus as may bo neceswiry to render our ill-starred marriage null and void. "Do not attempt to see me; you will only subject yourself to insult and failure, for n meeting will not bo permitted. I shall be removed from Taunton to-day, and in twenty-four hours I hope to be'eufe upon tho sea, free ! —ireo ! Oh, how my heart bounds at the thought of escape from this weary boudnge.

" Do not distress yourself about, my condition. I shall have funds furnished mo for my immediate expenses, an that was a part of my bargain with those I havo dealt with in this aft'itir. Once on the continent, I can support myself easily enough. I shall beootne a citizen of the world, and trouble you no more. '• Kemttmber me to my aunt and Gerald, aud tell the iattor it will bo useless to attompt to see mo again ; neither do 1 wish it. Forgive mo, llthcl, for all tho wrong 1 have done you, and let the restoration of your freedom utouo for it. '• Ve«nou Methubn."

In spite of her imegivingH ns to tho questionable means by which Vernor lmd escaped his impending doom, the heart of Ethel was lightened of a heavy load, and for a few moments she only thought of tho two great facts bin letter revealed—Vernor would evado a shameful duuth, and she would be forever released from him.

Tho letter had been brought in by Gerald, and he stood beside a window while she road it, unwilling to watch tho variations of her face while thus occupied. She offered it to him in tsilonce, for at that moment her emotion was too great for words. When ho lmd jflanced rapidly over it, Gerald drew near, sat down beside her, and said: "Ethel, how are you to meet the tleuiand that will be made on you in a fow days f It is known thut Wiliium Punn, tho celebrated Quaker aud philanthropist, i*t on hie way here an fhe agent of the maids of honor to whom the fines were given thut are to be levied on tho unfortunate children who appeared in tho procession that welcomed Monmouik. It id a singular errand for him to comb on, and I do not understand his motive*, for accepting such a commission."

" Bβ sure they aro good ones, Gerald, or auch a man would never have undertaken it. Do you think thu Government will really exact seven thousand pounds from us? If bo much in demanded, Ido not know how I shall escape outlawry."

"It is a shameful fraud!" burst forth Gurald ; " and it will cover the king with infamy that with his sanction such a sum is required from iirespon.siblo children acting under the orders of their teacher. And tho queen, a woman ! permits her own personal attendants to make a prey of her unfortunate subjects. It will bo a dark page in history that tells of this transaction." He arose and walked tho room in irrepressible excitement. At this moment Mrs. Methurn, Alice, and Mr. Digby entered tho room.

After a few moments, Mr. Digby asked Gerald to accompany him to bis library, as he had something of importance to any to him, aud the ludies wore left together. Mrs. Methurn had drawn near Miss Digby, and she fondly leaned her head upon her shoulder, aud softly said : " But for you 1 must have died. Let mo call you mother, for I love you as one. Oh ! give the dear hand that holds mine to one who will value it even more highly than I do, you would make mo tho happiest girl in the whole world."

Mrs. Methurn flushed slightly, pressed the hand that lay in her own, and kisaing the brow of Alice, gently said ;

" When your father wpeaku on this subject himself it will be timo enough for mo to think of it."

I TO ISK CONTINUED.]