XI
"Guilty, your Honour."
The voice was the tremulous voice of the foreman of a jury. His hand shook as it held the slip of paper from which he read the portentous words.
The Court leaned over toward him.
"I didn't catch that," said the Court.
Once more the foreman drew himself together, and moistened his lips before he repeated in shrill tones:
"Guilty, your Honour—guilty as charged in the indictment."
For a brief moment there was a silence; then the spacious court-room broke into subdued uproar.
"Jumpin' Jerusalem, I didn't think they'd have the nerve to do it!" came from a voice somewhere in the crowd; and judging from the expression on the faces of the people, this remark was fairly indicative of their opinion.
The Court rapped for silence, and nodded to Beekman, the active counsel for the defence.