"Plead to the indictment," he said.
"Dead!" cried Todd. "Why is she dead?"
"Prisoner at the bar," said the clerk of the arraign. "Do you plead guilty or not guilty to the charge here made against you?"
"Not guilty!" cried Todd, as he roused himself up, and glared at the judge like an enraged tiger.
Government had entrusted the prosecution to the Attorney General of the time being, and that functionary was in court. He rose to open the case, and spoke as follows, amid the most breathless silence—
"My lord, and gentlemen of the jury—
"The prisoner at the bar was originally indicted along with a female named Lovett—"
"Where is she?" said Todd.
"Prisoner," said the judge, "at the proper time you will have an opportunity of making any observation you may think fit, but it is scarcely necessary for me to inform you that this is not the time."
"She is not dead!" cried Todd. "She has been let escape by some juggling, in order that all the vengeance of the law might be directed against me. It is not true that she is dead. Some of you are chargeable with allowing that woman to escape. I tell you that she is a fiend and not a woman. But she has had gold at her disposal, and she has bribed you all—I say she has bought you all."