When, after a walk through the town, during which our progress was delayed by a curious throng of people who stared at me as if I had been a wild animal, we came to the court house, there was another gaping crowd at the door.
“Make way! Make way!” cried Constable Putnam. “Make way, good people, for the representative of His Most Gracious Majesty.”
Another time his pompous air and his words might have called forth jibes and ridicule from the thoughtless, but now, such was the time and the occasion, and so deep in every heart was the fear of witchcraft, that not a soul smiled.
The assemblage opened up in a living lane, and through it we passed into the court room. It was filled to overflowing, as it had been on another occasion, which I well remembered. I looked about me, noting little change since I had sat there as a spectator a few months back. And yet what a change there had been.
The same judges were on the bench, their Honors, John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, while Master Stephen Sewall was there to act as clerk; to take down with quill scratchings, whatever words should fall from my lips.
On the left of the judges sat the jury. All were men of grave mien, some of whom I knew well. They looked at me as I was brought in, and some whispered among themselves.
Then as I glanced hurriedly over the room I saw many of my old comrades. A few turned their heads away as if they feared I would cast the blight of the evil eye on them. Others looked more kindly at me. One man gazed fixedly into my face, and I was at a loss for a moment to recall who he was. Then after I had thought a bit I knew him for my former lieutenant, Giles Cory. He had grown a beard, and looked travel stained, as if he had just finished a journey around the world. I longed to ask of him what his adventures had been since we last saw each other in Pemaquid, and I wondered if he knew that his old mother was in gaol as a witch.
As I looked at him some one whispered in his ear. It was evidently the news of his mother, for I saw Cory’s face pale, and he hastened from the room. Poor lad, he little knew then, nor did I, how soon he was to stand where I stood, and to suffer a terrible death that I came nigh to.
I marked on many faces looks of ill ease and fright, for no man knew whether he was safe from accusation.
I looked for Lucille, though I knew no reason why she should be present. Thinking she might be hidden by some pillar, or by those in front, I stood up and gazed about me. At the time I was half minded to jump down among those who, with drawn swords and ready flint-locks, guarded me, and make a fight of it then and there. But my slightest move was watched, and the men closed up around me so that I saw nothing but death should I make the attempt. Then I resumed my seat.