There had been one final half-hour when Judge and Counsel had battled laboriously with the astounding situation. But it was useless. The Wolf and Annette clung tenaciously to their conflicting claims. Had they entered that Court with the purpose of creating legal confusion it could have been never so grotesquely complete. Chief Justice Pansarta was left with no alternative.
The Court had adjourned.
CHAPTER XV
RELEASE
CHIEF JUSTICE PANSARTA sat back in his capacious chair. His stout legs were crossed comfortably. His somewhat benign personality was never more emphasized than as he sat there enjoying his first cigar of the day. His meditative gaze was on the great shaft of sunlight pouring in through the window of the room appointed for his private use at the Supreme Court of Calford.
Superintendent Croisette was interestedly observing him across the polished table intervening between them.
On either hand of the Judge the two leading counsels in the trial which had occupied the court on the previous day, were waiting for the decision which was to result from the lengthy legal discussion upon which they had engaged. John Danson sat facing the prosecuting counsel queerly confident. Eustace Mellor was smoking a cigarette and avoiding the gaze of his friendly opponent.
Croisette had heard all the argument of the learned counsel without very great interest. In truth he felt their little legal skirmish was hardly important. Judge Pansarta, he knew, had long since taken his decision. Probably it had been taken over night. His only concern was as to what that decision might be.
But the learned Judge seemed to be in no great hurry. Snow had fallen in the night. But the morning was soft and the snow melting. It was the first real sign that winter was to reach its termination, however long it might be, however bitter. And the Judge seemed to be enjoying the pleasant augury of the brilliant sun.
At last he reluctantly turned to the men gathered at the table. His smile was cordial as he glanced from the defence to the prosecution. But it was no more. It was the smile of the man who is complete master of the situation and is quite aware of the fact.
Croisette found himself smiling responsively. The counsels had worked very hard to impress their viewpoints.