This produces silence. Sir James Grumpy is a bit of a martinet. The public knows that he means what he says.
And now he proceeds in his summing up. Very carefully he goes over all the points advanced by both sides, but it is apparent to all, from the first, that the summing up is most unfavourable to the accused. It takes him about an hour to get through his task, and all the time Hector D’Estrange stands motionless, with folded arms and immovable features. Only now and again the dark blue eyes wander to where Speranza is sitting, with the Duke of Ravensdale by her side.
The summing up is over at length, and the jury have retired to consider their verdict. Apparently, however, they had made up their minds beforehand, for they do not keep the Court long waiting. In a few minutes every one has reassembled.
“Gentlemen of the jury, have you considered your verdict?” rings out a harsh, sing-song voice.
“We have,” answers the foreman.
“You find the accused guilty or not guilty of the murder of Lord Westray?”
Amidst a silence, terrible in its intensity, comes the answer—
“Guilty.”
A thrill of horror runs through the court. There is hardly a dry eye within it. The duke has got Speranza’s hand in his, but she never moves.
“Hector D’Estrange, have you any reason to give why sentence of death should not be passed upon you?” again inquires the harsh, sing-song voice.