AT BROXBRIDGE HALL—THE EARL AND HIS LAWYER.
“I suppose you have heard the news, my lord,” said Mr. Wrench to Earl Ethalwood, “the prisoner, Chudley, has attempted to escape.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed the earl, in a tone of surprise. “No I have not heard anything about it till this moment; but I hope and trust he was not successful.”
“No; it was discovered only just in time. A few hours later and he would in all probability have succeeded.”
“Miserably-guilty wretch!” ejaculated the earl. “Give me the full particulars.
Mr. Wrench entered into a detailed description of the events which have been described in the previous chapter. When he had concluded he said—
“It is a pretty convincing proof that the prisoner is guilty, and will prejudice self in the eyes of the judge and jury.”
“Ah, no doubt; but the evidence is conclusive, and cannot lead but to one conclusion. What say you?”
“Yes, it is pretty clear for the matter of that; but one never knows what may take place—juries sometimes take such singular freaks in their heads. From what I have been able to gather, Mr. Slapperton is going to offer evidence to prove an alibi.”
“Which he will fail in doing. Take my word for it, Mr. Wrench, this as well as other rumours we have heard have not truth for their basis. The man is guilty enough. My brother magistrates agree with me in that opinion. As to Slapperton, he is not worth notice. He’s a noisy wrangler, who is bent upon making as much display as possible for the purpose of gaining popularity; and in this respect it is just possible that he has succeeded to a certain extent. There are, and I suppose always will be, a certain class of persons who admire a blatant, unscrupulous lawyer.”