The solemn words of the judge echo through the crowded court-room, and the sea of human faces turn curiously1 and with one accord towards the spot where the prisoner sits with his friend, the handsome German artist, by his side, where he has remained throughout the trial.
The case has excited much interest, for the murdered man had been widely known, and as for the man accused of the murder, his native land had but just commenced to hear of him as a son whose brow was crowned with laurels2 in the world of art. But almost simultaneously3 with the announcement of his brilliant success abroad had followed the dreadful tidings of his arrest for the murder of Mr. Arnold, and the distinguished4 position of the murdered man and the fame of the gifted young artist accused of the crime had drawn5 thousands to the trial.
It was all over now. Day after day the prisoner had sat with his flashing dark eye, and calm, pale brow, listening to the damning evidence against him. From first to last, despite the entreaties6 of his lawyer and friends, he had resolutely7 declined to attempt proving an alibi8—the only thing that could have saved him. Now, the trial was over, the evidence had been summed up and given to the jury, and they had returned their verdict of willful murder. Nothing now remained but the dreadful duty of the judge—to pronounce upon that young, handsome, gifted man the sentence of annihilation—of death!
[Pg 124]
And accordingly he had begun with the usual ceremonious formula:
"Have you anything to say why the sentence of death should not be pronounced against you?"
And the eager crowd surged forward for a nearer view of Leslie Dane's face.
Colonel Carlyle was there, sitting with Mrs. Arnold and Felise Herbert. There was an ill-concealed expression of relief and satisfaction upon the faces of the three. They had pursued an innocent man to the death, but no twinge of remorse9 stirred their hard hearts as he rose in his seat, pale, proud and handsome, towering above the crowd in his kingly hight and stateliness, and confronted the judge.
"I have nothing to say, your honor, except that I am not guilty!"
A low murmur10 of approbation11 from some, and of dissent12 from others instantly arose, and was immediately hushed by the crier of the court.
At that moment, when the judge rose to the performance of his duty, a messenger brought a tiny slip of paper and placed it in the hands of Leslie Dane's lawyer. As he read it his gloomy face brightened marvelously. He rose in his seat flushed and radiant.
"May it please your honor to suspend the sentence of the court. There is a new and important witness."
The next moment a graceful13, veiled figure, clad in heavy, soundless black silk, glided14 into the witness-box.
She was sworn, and lifted her veil to kiss the book. A perfectly15 beautiful face, blanched16 to the pallor of marble, was revealed by the action. A murmur of admiration17 arose from the spectators, blent with subdued18 exclamations19 of horror from three who were nearly stricken lifeless by her unexpected advent20.
"Silence in the court!" thundered the crier.
The examination of the witness began.
"What is your name?"
And clear and sweet as a silver bell the lady's voice arose in answer, penetrating21 every strained ear in the densely-packed court-room.
"I have been known as Bonnibel Carlyle, but I am Bonnibel Dane, the wife of the prisoner at the bar!"
As the words left her lips she glanced beneath her long lashes22 at the face of Leslie Dane. In her swift look there was shame, abnegation, self-sacrifice, curiously blended with uncontrollable pity and almost tenderness. The face that looked back at her was so radiant that it almost dazzled her. Her eyes dropped swiftly, and she never looked at him again while she stood there.
Many eyes turned upon Colonel Carlyle to see how he bore the stroke of fate. He sat perfectly still, white as marble, staring like one frozen into a statue of horror at the beautiful witness in the box, whose blue eyes took no note of his presence.
The examination proceeded. Bonnibel told her story calmly, clearly, bravely. When she concluded and left the witness-stand she was succeeded by the old minister and his wife, whom she had brought from Brandon.
[Pg 125]
They corroborated23 her testimony24 and left no flaw in the evidence. The clouds which had hung over Leslie Dane's fair name so long were dissipated by the sunlight of truth. His alibi was triumphantly25 established, his innocence26 perfectly vindicated27. And then, to the surprise of all and the utter consternation28 of Felise Herbert, Wild Madge, the sibyl, hobbled weakly into the witness-box, pale, wrinkled, cadaverous, the image of hideous29 old age and approaching death. Breathless silence pervaded30 the multitude while the dying woman told her story, interspersing31 it with many expressions of remorse and horror. Briefly32 told, her confession33 amounted to this: Felise Herbert had sought her humble34 cabin the night that Mr. Arnold and Leslie Dane had quarreled, and bribed35 her to murder the millionaire. Tempted36 by the large reward, she had stolen upon Mr. Arnold as he slept in his arm-chair on the piazza37 and stabbed him to the heart with a large knife. Then, ere long, remorse had fastened upon her, and she had cast the golden price of her dreadful crime into the engulfing38 waves of the ocean. Finishing her story with a last labored39 effort, and throwing up her arms wildly into the air, Wild Madge, the feared and dreaded40 sibyl of Cape41 May fell forward on the floor of the court-room—dead!
As soon as her body had been removed from the place the lawyer who had prosecuted42 Leslie Dane rose hastily in his seat. It might be out of order, he said, but he should be glad to ask a few questions of the minister who had performed the marriage ceremony between Leslie Dane and Miss Bonnibel Vere.
His request was granted, and the aged43, white-haired preacher was again placed on the witness-stand, while curiosity was on the qui vive for further developments. The lawyer cross-questioned the old man closely for a few minutes; then he turned to the judge.
"I am bound, your honor," he said, "to inform those most interested that, though the lady's evidence has completely vindicated Leslie Dane, she has utterly44 failed to establish the legality of her marriage with him. On the contrary, owing to the youth and inexperience of the young man, perhaps partly attributable to his haste and agitation45 that night, and to the culpable46 forgetfulness and carelessness of the aged minister here, there was no license47 procured48 for the authority of the marriage ceremony. Her former marriage, therefore, has no legality in the eyes of the law, and she still remains49, as she has been known the last three years, the wife of Colonel Carlyle."
As the lawyer resumed his seat, amid a breathless hum of excitement, a loud shriek50 pierced the air of the court-room—a wild, horrible, blood-curdling, maniacal52 cry. Every eye turned on Felise Herbert, who had risen in her seat, and with distorted features, livid lips and burning eyes, was wildly beating the air with her hands. Her appearance was appalling53 to behold54 as she stood there with her hat falling off, her hair in disorder55, and foam56 flecks57 on her livid, writhing58 lips.
"Foiled! foiled!" she exclaimed wildly. "I am baffled of my revenge at every point."
Everyone seemed horror-struck. None attempted to molest[Pg 126] her as she moved forward and stood before Colonel Carlyle. The old man looked up at her vacantly. He had neither moved nor spoken since the entrance of his wife; he seemed to be fettered59 hand and foot by a trance of horror. He did not heed60 the threatening look in the eyes of Felise Herbert as they fell upon him, full of the wild glare of madness.
"You jilted me, fool!" she said, passionately61, wildly gesticulating with her hands—"jilted me for the sake of Bonnibel Vere's baby beauty. I swore revenge upon you both. I forged the notice of Leslie Dane's death, made her believe it was true, and drove her to desperation and forced her to marry you. I made you jealous by my anonymous62 letters, and turned your married life into a hell upon earth. But now, the sweetest drop in my cup—the illegality of your marriage—is turned into bitterness. But I will have my revenge yet. Die, die, villain63!"
One movement, swift as the lightning flash, and a little dagger64 gleamed in her hand, and the next instant was buried to the hilt in Colonel Carlyle's heart.
With a groan65 he fell on the floor at her feet.
Strong hands bore the raving66 maniac51 away, attended by her frightened, horror-struck mother.
The poor victim of the madwoman's fatal revenge, as he lay weltering in his blood, lifted his dimming eyes, and gasped67 one imploring68 word:
"Bonnibel!"
Trembling like a wind-blown leaf, she came at his call, and knelt down at his side with a great pity shining in her soft blue eyes.
The dying man's gaze dwelt on her for a moment, drinking in all the sweetness and fairness of the face he loved, and which he was losing forever.
"My wife," he murmured, in hollow, broken accents, "do you not—see—I—was—not wholly—to blame? A—fiend's—work—goaded me—on! She has—had—her revenge. But—it—might have been—so different—if I had known. Bonnibel, forgive!"
She took his hand in hers and bent69 her face lower over him, with all the divine pity and forgiveness of a tender woman shining in the eyes that were brimming over with tears.
"I am sorry it all fell out so," she said, very gently, "and I forgive all—as freely as I hope to be forgiven."
A beam of love and gratitude70 flashed over his features an instant; then it faded out in the grayness and pallor of death. Bonnibel turned away, and hid her face on the shoulder of the faithful Lucy.
"It's all over, my poor darling. Shall we go away now?" Lucy whispered.
"We must go back to his home with him, Lucy. We must show him the last tribute of respect. I have forgiven him. He was more sinned against than sinning," she murmured back.
So when the mournful funeral cortege moved from the gates of his stately home, Colonel Carlyle's darling, whom he had so passionately loved despite his jealous madness, went down to the[Pg 127] portals of the grave with him, and saw all that was mortal of Clifford Carlyle laid away in the kindred dust.
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1
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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6
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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7
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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8
alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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10
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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13
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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14
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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15
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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16
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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18
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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20
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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21
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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22
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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23
corroborated
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 ) | |
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24
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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25
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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26
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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27
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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28
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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29
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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30
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
interspersing
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| v.散布，散置( intersperse的现在分词 )；点缀 | |
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32
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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33
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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34
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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35
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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36
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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37
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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38
engulfing
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| adj.吞噬的v.吞没，包住( engulf的现在分词 ) | |
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39
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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40
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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41
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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42
prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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43
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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44
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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45
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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46
culpable
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| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
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47
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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48
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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49
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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50
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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51
maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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52
maniacal
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| adj.发疯的 | |
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53
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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54
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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55
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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56
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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57
flecks
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| n.斑点，小点( fleck的名词复数 )；癍 | |
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58
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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59
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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61
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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62
anonymous
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| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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63
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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64
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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65
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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66
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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67
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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68
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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69
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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70
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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