The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 115: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 109 recent revolt at Bromley Hall? Very well. And you still persist in swearing that you were on the most intimate terms with the prisoner up to the time of his leaving, and that he swore to be revenged on Mr. Jonathan, somehow 7?” eee aE am,’ “*Tsit not true that you and Madame Jonathan concocted a plan between you to ruin this young man? Is it not a fact that the night previous tothe prisoner’s departure you and your mistress were closeted together in the dark? Will you swear this is not true? Be careful, now, for you are on your oath.’ ” ‘This question,” said the detective, interpreting the printed evidence, “seemed to startle the wit- ness, who got very red in the face, but he answered slowly— *“*Tt is not true,’ ““* Very well, Mr. Shanks ; now let me ask you whether it is not true that once or twice you and the prisoner fell out, and that Mr. Caspar threatened to publicly horsewhip you for your cruelty to the scholars ?’ «Tt is false.’ “*Ts it not true—attend to me ; do not be gazing around in that manner on the crowded court, for your liberty of person depends upon your answers— Js it not true, on your oath, mind, that the cause of Mr. Jonathan’s continued absence arises from the unexpected flight of two poor little children he has had imprisoned for years and tried to starve to death ?’ “This question startled the court as much so as the witness, who changed all manner of colours, as he stammered out— ““« There is not one word of truth in any of your questions ; they are all false suppositions.’ ‘““* Very well, we shall shortly see ; but let me ask you again, did not Mr. Jonathan strike you fiercely, and swear at you when he discovered the two cap- tives had been rescued by the young Garibaldians, as they called themselves, under Frank Ford?’ “ * No, it is not.’ “* Stand down,’ said Mr. Valentine, the lawyer. ‘Stand down, sir ; your face belies your words ; we shall hear more of you presently. Your worship, I have particularly to request that this witness be detained in one of the ante-rooms of the court ; he, himself, is charged with a very serious crime.’ “As Shanks descended from the witness-box, he was politely taken in charge by a policeman, who escorted him to a waiting room. ““The next witness called for cross-examination was Madame Jonathan, a person of very lady-like manners, elegantly attired in costly silks, and of rather pretty features. ‘She looked at the prisoner for a moment with an air of triumph, and tossed her head in+great contempt as Mr. Valentine began to cross-examine her “““ You swore, Madame Jonathan, in your yester- day’s direct examination, that the trinkets found in the prisoner’s trunks were stolen by him. Do you adhere to the statement 707, madame.’ “<Yes, why not now?’ said Madame, with a flashing eye ; ‘of course I do.’ “«TDid you never make certain advances towards this young man ; in fact, fall on your knees before him, and profess love? Did you not, in fine, urge him to fly from Bromley Hall with you, and that he spurned your proposals?’ asked the clever lawyer, very calmly, and coolly watching the witness changing countenance. ‘“. What |!’ gasped Madame Jonathan, looking pale as death, ‘What base tissue of calumnies is this I hear?’ “Mr, Valentine repeated the questions, slowly and distinctly, adding, ““¢On your oath, mind, answer me.’ ‘No,’ said the witness, in a hissing tone ; ‘if the He as prisoner before me says so he basely ies,’ “¢Tid you not leave your chamber and go to his for the purpose of secreting your property in his trunks in order that you might be revenged on him, and cause him to be arrested and convicted ?’ -**T did not, on my oath.’ “< Have not youand Mr, Shanks, the last witness, had frequent conversations in the garden as to what you should or should not say on this trial? Have you not said that it was now impossible for your husband to return, and that you and Mr. Shanks would live as man and wife, and carry on the academy at Bromley Hall?’ “« Me?’ gasped Madame, getting very red in the face; ‘me? I did not come here to be insulted, sir!’ she said, with fierce looks, and a toss of her head. ‘ Me, sir?’ “‘Yes; you, madame,’ said the lawyer, very coolly. ‘Answer me?’ ‘““« No!’ she replied, in hissing tones. ‘“¢ You may stand down, madame; I have done with you for the present. I desire, your worship, that this witness may not be allowed to go beyond the precincts of the court, for certain reasons; at least, not until the conclusion of this case, Let Mr. Giles be called.’ “The old gardener with his white head, and tremulous with excitement, tottered forward through the crowd, and as Madame Jonathan saw him pass her eyes were suddenly lit up with a fierce and angry expression. « He here |’ she said, in wonder, as he passed. «Yes, ma’am, J am here,’ Giles answered coolly, ‘and here for come purpose, as you will shortly discover.’ ‘‘He mounted the box, and was sworn as a wit- ness for the defence. ‘You are and have been gardener.at Bromley Hall for many years, and profess to know all about this robbery and mystery hanging about Bromley Hall?’ said Mr, Valentine. ‘© Yes, sir, L do; and more than any one here expects me to know. Jam not what I seem to be,’ said Giles, with a chuckle; ‘sillly and old as they take me. In one word,’ said Giles, colouring up, and raising his voice, ‘all this prosecution is a foul and dirty conspiracy, gentlemen, and against one of the best and bravest young men as ever lived.’ ‘“« How do you prove this, Mr, Giles? State fully all you know, but only as much as relates to this case, mind.’ “¢ Well, sir, these trinkets now produced were placed in Mr. Caspar’s trunks by the last witness. I saw her do it myself, for I watched her as I have her husband, and the sneaking tutor Shanks, for years past.’ ““« Have you heard the two last witnesses con- cocting plans, what to do, or what to say, in respect to this case ?’ “«T have ; they were in the garden together, and were talking French, so that I might not under- stand them, as I was working ; but I do understand French, and have often heard Mr. Jonathan and Shanks talking about the two young prisoners who were released by Frank Ford and his brave com- panions. If it had not been for me they would have been slowly murdered for want of food, which I supplied to them. I know the day when they came, who brought them, and why ; it ison account of their escape, and fear of his own punishment, Ccomicboool CO