“‘I’ll try, but I do not agree to accomplish the task accurately.’
“‘We thee juree do agree thatt Misstress Victoree Ragglinn didd pizenn thee pour child, annd we woosh we hadd a chans to hangg her, butt wee kant bekase shee iz ded. Wee finde Benn Boals giltee ov merder, and sentns himm to be hungg thee furst Fridee atter he is kotch. Wee cleer Mis Brammlitt, annd the shurref shal paa the kost.’
“That is the identical verdict, each word spelled just as you see it, but here is a correct copy which the clerk was kind enough to transcribe for me, after the orthography had been properly corrected.
“‘We the jury do agree that Mistress Victoria Ragland did poison the poor child, and we wish we had a chance to hang her, but we can’t, because she is dead. We find Ben Bowles guilty of murder, and sentence him to be hung on the first Friday after he is caught. We clear Miss Bramlett, and the sheriff shall pay the cost.’
“It was agreed between the attorney-general and Mr. Rockland that the verdict might be so changed as to comply with the usual legal form; consequently, the record merely shows a verdict in the following words: ‘We the jury find the defendant not guilty.’
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
“‘LOTTIE,’ said Mr. Rockland, one bright morning as he rose from the breakfast table, ‘I am going to bring half a dozen friends to dinner this evening, and want you to have everything arranged in splendid order. The Governor will be among the distinguished guests. May I depend on you?’
“‘Give me a check for three hundred dollars, and six kisses, and then I will discuss the matter with you.’
“‘There is the check, and you may take the kisses—there, there, don’t smother me! What are you going to do with that money?’
“‘I am going to give it to Mrs. McCay.’