The justice made a sign to two of the constables present as she burst out with those exclamations, and the men removed her to an adjoining room.
The second servant from the Hall was then put in the box, and was followed by one of the tenants.After what they had heard and seen, neither of these men had any hesitation in swearing positively to their master's identity.
"It is quite unnecessary," said the justice, as soon as the box was empty again, "to examine any more witnesses as to the question of identity.All the legal formalities are accomplished, and the charge against the prisoners falls to the ground.I have great pleasure in ordering the immediate discharge of both the accused persons, and in declaring from this place that they leave the court without the slightest stain on their characters."He bowed low to my mistress as he said that, paused a moment, and then looked inquiringly at Mr.James Smith.
"I have hitherto abstained from making any remark unconnected with the immediate matter in hand," he went on."But, now that my duty is done, I cannot leave this chair without expressing my strong sense of disapprobation of the conduct of Mr.James Smith--conduct which, whatever may be the motives that occasioned it, has given a false color of probability to a most horrible charge against a lady of unspotted reputation, and against a person in a lower rank of life whose good character ought not to have been imperiled even for a moment.Mr.Smith may or may not choose to explain his mysterious disappearance from Darrock Hall, and the equally unaccountable change which he has chosen to make in his personal appearance.There is no legal charge against him;but, speaking morally, I should be unworthy of the place I hold if I hesitated to declare my present conviction that his conduct has been deceitful, inconsiderate, and unfeeling in the highest degree."To this sharp reprimand Mr.James Smith (evidently tutored beforehand as to what he was to say) replied that, in attending before the justice, he wished to perform a plain duty and to keep himself strictly within the letter of the law.He apprehended that the only legal obligation laid on him was to attend in that court to declare himself, and to enable competent witnesses to prove his identity.This duty accomplished, he had merely to add that he preferred submitting to a reprimand from the bench to entering into explanations which would involve the disclosure of domestic circumstances of a very unhappy nature.After that brief reply he had nothing further to say, and he would respectfully request the justice's permission to withdraw.
The permission was accorded.As he crossed the room he stopped near his wife, and said, confusedly, in a very low tone:
"I have done you many injuries, but I never intended this.I am sorry for it.Have you anything to say to me before I go?"My mistress shuddered and hid her face.He waited a moment, and, finding that she did not answer him, bowed his head politely and went out.I did not know it then, but I had seen him for the last time.
After he had gone, the lawyer, addressing Mr.Robert Nicholson, said that he had an application to make in reference to the woman Josephine Durand.
At the mention of that name my mistress hurriedly whispered a few words into her relation's ear.He looked toward Mr.Philip Nicholson, who immediately advanced, offered his arm to my mistress, and led her out.I was about to follow, when Mr.Dark stopped me, and begged that I would wait a few minutes longer, in order to give myself the pleasure of seeing "the end of the case."In the meantime, the justice had pronounced the necessary order to have the quadroon brought back.She came in, as bold and confident as ever.Mr.Robert Nicholson looked away from her in disgust and said to the lawyer:
"Your application is to have her committed for perjury, of course?""For perjury?" said Josephine, with her wicked smile."Very good.
I shall explain some little matters that I have not explained before.You think I am quite at your mercy now? Bah! I shall make myself a thorn in your sides yet.""She has got scent of the second marriage," whispered Mr.Dark to me.
There could be no doubt of it.She had evidently been listening at the door on the night when my master came back longer than Ihad supposed.She must have heard those words about "the new wife"--she might even have seen the effect of them on Mr.James Smith.
"We do not at present propose to charge Josephine Durand with perjury," said the lawyer, "but with another offense, for which it is important to try her immediately, in order to effect the restoration of property that has been stolen.I charge her with stealing from her mistress, while in her service at Darrock Hall, a pair of bracelets, three rings, and a dozen and a half of lace pocket-handkerchiefs.The articles in question were taken this morning from between the mattresses of her bed; and a letter was found in the same place which clearly proves that she had represented the property as belonging to herself, and that she had tried to dispose of it to a purchaser in London." While he was speaking, Mr.Dark produced the jewelry, the handkerchiefs and the letter, and laid them before the justice.
Even Josephine's extraordinary powers of self-control now gave way at last.At the first words of the unexpected charge against her she struck her hands together violently, gnashed her sharp white teeth, and burst out with a torrent of fierce-sounding words in some foreig n language, the meaning of which I did not understand then and cannot explain now.
"I think that's checkmate for marmzelle," whispered Mr.Dark, with his invariable wink."Suppose you go back to the Hall, now, William, and draw a jug of that very remarkable old ale of yours?
I'll be after you in five minutes, as soon as the charge is made out."I could hardly realize it when I found myself walking back to Darrock a free man again.