A.—The night was much too dark for the woman to see my face. She asked me to render her a slight service, and I did so. I did not speak to her, because I had nothing to say to her. I did not leave her suddenly, but only got ahead of her, because her ass walked very slowly.
At a sign from the president, the ushers raise the red cloth which cover the objects on the table.
Great curiosity is manifested by the whole audience; and all rise, and stretch their necks to see better. On the table are displayed clothes, a pair of velveteen trousers, a shooting-jacket of maroon-colored velveteen, an old straw hat, and a pair of dun-colored leather boots. By their side lie a double-barrelled gun, packages of cartridges, two bowls filled with small-shot, and, finally, a large china basin, with a dark sediment at the bottom.
P.—(Showing these objects to the accused.) Are those the clothes which you wore the evening of the crime?
A.—Yes, sir.
P.—A curious costume in which to visit a venerable ecclesiastic, and to perform religious duties.
A.—The priest at Brechy was my friend. Our intimacy will explain, even if it does not justify, the liberty I took.
P.—Do you also recognize this basin? The water has been allowed to evaporate, and the residue alone remains there on the bottom.
A.—It is true, that, when the magistrate appeared at my house, he found there the basin full of dark water, which was thick with half-burnt debris. He asked me about this water, and I did not hesitate a moment to tell him that I had washed my hands in it the evening before, after my return home.
Is it not evident, that if I had been guilty, my first effort would have been to put every evidence of my crime out of the way? And yet this circumstance is looked upon as the strongest evidence of my guilt, and the prosecution produces it as the most serious charge against me.