Peace bowed, and his face wore a complacent expression, which was altogether at variance with its ordinary appearance.
His companion was evidently quite taken up with him.
“The man who is about to suffer has been convicted upon the clearest evidence of a most dastardly and cold-blooded murder. The circumstances which led to his discovery are a little singular; and, indeed, I might say romantic.”
“So a neighbour of mine was saying,” observed Peace. “I am not acquainted with all the particulars.”
His companion gave a succinct but graphic account of all those facts with which the reader is already acquainted.
“How very singular!—how remarkable!” exclaimed Peace, adjusting his spectacles when his companion had ceased.
A short thick-set man, with dark piercing eyes, a close-cut grey beard, now appeared on the scaffold, at which he took a hasty glance.
This figure presented a weird-like appearance.
“There he is!” said several voices.
“Who is that?” said Peace.