“All I know,” said Hetzel, “is what Arthur has let drop in conversation, from time to time, during the last few months. But then, you know, he was looking at it from the point of view of the prosecution. I should imagine that if any one would understand the true inwardness of the matter, it would be Mrs. Hart.”
Mrs. Hart said, “I know that she is as innocent as the babe at its mother’s breast. When she and I first met each other, in England, two years ago, and became friends, she told me all about it; but it was a long and complicated story, and I can’t remember it clearly enough to repeat it. You see, I always regarded it as a dark bygone that had best be forgotten. I believe that as far as the mere bodily act went, she did fire off the pistol that killed her husband and that other man. But there were some circumstances that cleared her of all responsibility, though I can’t recall exactly what they were. But it wasn’t that she was insane. She never was insane. I think she said her lawyers defended her on that plea when she was tried; but she insisted that she was not insane, and explained it in some other way.”
“Oh, that don’t signify,” said Romer. “When defendants really are insane, they invariably fancy that they’re not, and get highly indignant at their counsel for maintaining that they are. At any rate, lunacy is what you must fight for now. As I told Mr. Hetzel, you want to retain a lawyer, and have him move for a commission when the case comes up next week. You’ll have your motion granted on application, because we shan’t oppose.”
“And in the event of the commission declaring her to be insane?” queried Mr. Flint.
“Why, then, her plea will be rendered null and void.”
“And in case they say that she’s of sound mind?”
“There’ll be the devil to pay. Sentence will have to be passed.”
“And she will—will actually—?”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. The chances are that they will report as you wish. And if they shouldn’t—if worse came to worst—why, there’s the governor, who has power to pardon.”
“The ambulance has arrived,” said the doctor, coming into the room. “Some one had better run on ahead, and get a bed ready for the patient. Please, also, prepare plenty of chopped ice, and have some towels handy, and a bottle of hot water for his feet. By the way, you didn’t give me the number of the house. How’s that? No. 46? Thanks. We’ll drive slowly, so as not to shake him up; and consequently you’ll have time enough to get there first, and make every thing ready.”