He wiped his forehead; for it was damp and hot.
“It is impossible for them not to condemn me!” And he leaned against the window-sill, scarcely able to stand on his feet; he experienced a sort of faintness for which he could not account, and which obliged him to change his posture every moment. “Nothing! There is no word from them. My God! they are a long time. And for what purpose, when all was decided in advance? O Rochester! where art thou? It is this that lowers my courage. Well! they do not return. What can this jury be doing? It seems to me that it is already two hours since they went out.” He looked around him, and saw that the two guards had commenced a game of cards.
“How much a game?” said the bigger of the two.
“A penny.”
“A penny!” cried the other. “Of what are you dreaming, Scotchman? The profit of a week! A half-penny now, and more on trust if—You understand me?” And he made a gesture as if drinking.
“Always drinking, always drinking!” replied his adversary.
They were dealing the cards, when the maces of the court officers resounded on the floor, announcing that the deliberations were ended and the court was returning.
“What!” cried the two gamesters, “they have finished already? How they have hurried over this business! Ordinarily they take an hour, at least.”
They hastened to gather up their cards and conceal them under their jackets.
At a signal given by the officers