The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

110 that caused Jonathan, and old Flint, to fly.’ 9) When old “Mr, Schmidt” had heard this much he began to tremble in every limb, but did not betray it to his companion, ‘Most extraordinary trial,” said he, half aloud. “Very,” was the detectiye’s answer ; “I thought it would interest vow.” “ Me? Why me?” said, “ Mr, Schmidt,’ hastily. “Why me?” “Oh! not, particularly you; I meant it would interest any one who read it.” , “Exactly.” “And allow me to say,” the detective went on, ‘this trial promises to reveal some startling things, if these accusations against the schoolmaster Jonathan are only true.” ‘““‘ We must have been a wretch indeed,” said ‘Mr. Schmidt,’ as he again listened to the account read and commented upon by the stranger— : “* But do you know, or have you any idea, Giles, why Madame Jonathan should entertain such wicked intentions towards the prisoner ?’ ““¢ Yes, sir; ever since Mr, Caspar has been at Bromley Hall he has been quietly persecuted by the attention of his mistress as often as she had ‘secret opportunities for doing so, the lawyer, comply with her guilty wishes.’ ‘‘¢ When this occurred where were you?’ — **¢T was in the parlour hiding behind the screen, not for the purpose of watching her, but to ferret out something else that the officers of justice wished to know. I saw her fall on her knees before him, and, with tears in her eyes, beg of him to fly with - her.’ “¢ And what was Mr, Caspar’s answer ?’ “He gently reproved her at first, and then, find- ing that she still persisted in her entreaty, he spurned her from him, and left the room. ’ **¢ And what did she ?” “For some few moments she remained as she had been, on her knees, but arose, walked up and down the apartment, and then resolved in firm, quiet tones to be revenged on the prisoner.’ ‘*¢ What then followed, Mr. Giles ?’ ‘*«< T watched her that night, and saw her distinctly come into Mr, Caspar’s room, for I was hiding there. I saw her open his trunks with false keys, and secrete the trinkets now produced, each wrapped up in a piece of tissue paper. I swear all this most solemnly, and I would prove it on this instant if I were allowed to do so.’ : **How does the witness mean?’ asked his worship. ““*T mean, sir, that she rummaged over all his papers, and abstracted certain things.’ “ «What, the witness steal from the prisoner?’ “Yes, sir; I could, tell you what it was,’ said Giles, ‘but do not like to do so in open court.’ “‘¢ Name it,’ said his worship. “She stole several of his sweetheart’s letters, and has them now in her reticule.’ “Let the last. witness be re-called,’ said the lawyer. | ‘‘ She again appeared in court. ‘** In your journey to London, madame, did you lose anything ?” “Yes; I missed my reticule at the railway station,’ “* Did it contain anything very valuable ?” “Yes, letters of great importance,’ THE BOY) SOLDIER; OR,’ GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. Mr,, I often thought that: her desires were wicked and unwomanly towards her husband, but never dreamed she ‘would fall: upon her knees, and almost foree Mr. Casper to’ “Ts this it?’ said the lawyer, producing the identical reticule. ‘It was handed over to me this. morning by a'stranger ; I'have not examined it.’ “* Yes, that’s it,’ said Madame Jonathan, in a great hurry to it. “¢ Does all it contains belong to you ?” oo 6 Yes,’ “No, sir,’ said Giles; ‘I saw her put some of the stolen letters into it half an hour before she left Bromley Hall.’ ‘“6°TGs false |’ said Madame, turning out the con- tents with an indignant flourish ; “‘ you may exa- mine all for yourself if you do not believe me,’ she said, in full, confidence that they would not do so. ‘Those three letters are the ones I allude to,’ said Giles ; ‘I will swear to them.’ “‘Why, these letters belong to the. prisoner, Madame. -How come they in your possession ?’ said Mr, Valentine. ‘‘The witness was puzzled, confused, and sur- prised, | | “ She could not answer a word; but would have retired on the instant, and began to tremble, for it would seem as if a strange presentiment now came over her that in less than’ an hour, perhaps, she herself would be placed in the dock, and accused of robbery, ‘‘ Giles’s evidence was continued, and through the well-put questions of Mr. Valentine (prisoner’s counsel) the whole history of Bromley Hall was elicited amidst the breathless interest of the court.” “‘ Suffice it to say,’ the detective observed “ that through severely cross-examined, the prosecution failed to make old Giles contradict himself, and that the jury unanimously acquitted Mr. Caspar of the charge of robbery, amidst the great applause of a crowded court. ‘“ Madame Jonathan and Shanks, who were in a waiting-room, heard the news with sinking hearts. ‘“They wished to depart on the instant; but a policeman politely said, * “<*You must not go yet, if you please. Mr. Caspar is accused of being an accomplice in Mr, Ford’s murder; the court is now hearing the case.’ . “He left the room, and in about two hours returned, _- ‘© Well, what news ?’ said Madame Jonathan, all flushed with excitement. ‘Surely they have found sufficient evidence on that charge to remand him? The cloak, hat, and mask found by the detectives belonged to him. He owned it,’ ““¢ Atl true, madame; but the witness Giles has cleared up all that,’ said the policeman. «Tow do you mean ?’ «They were stolen from Mr. Caspar’s trunks the same night the students left. Giles saw it done and knows all abont it,’ * ¢By whom, pray ?’? asked Madame and Shanks both in a breath, «That I have not liberty to say. His evidence was given privately to Detective Gale, and there ends the matter. Mr. Caspar is acquitted of both charges, and this Giles is such a valuable witness in this abominable affair that he has been for the last Ne weeks the constant companion of Sergeant ale.’ “The, two witnesses, heaved heavy sighs, and hung their heads in great dejection. «Then, why cannot we depart?’ asked they with looks of doubt and apprehension, ‘Simply, madame, for this reason. Mr, Caspar charges you with robbery, {perjury, and conspiracy with the other witness, Mr. Shanks,’ ' GComicboo