During all this time the Executive Committee sat in continuous session, for it had been agreed that no recess1 of more than thirty minutes should be taken until a decision had been reached. The room in which they sat was a large one, lighted by windows on one side only. Coleman sat behind a raised desk at one end. Below it stood a small table accommodating two. On either side six small tables completed three sides of a hollow square. No ornament2, no especial comforts--the desk, the thirteen pine tables, the twenty-eight pine chairs, the wooden walls, the oil lamps, the four long windows--that was all.
The prisoners, who, when they had seen the thousands before the jail, had expected nothing less than instant execution by lynch law, began to take heart. After a man has faced what he thinks is the prospect3 of immediate4 and unavoidable death, such treatment as this arouses real hope. The prisoners were strictly5 guarded and closely confined, it is true, but they understood they were to have a fair trial "according to law." That last phrase cheered them immensely. They knew the law. Nor were they entirely6 cut off from the outside. Casey was allowed to see several men in regard to certain pressing business matters, and was permitted to talk to them freely, although always in the presence of a member of the committee. Cora received visits from Belle7. She had spent thousands in his legal defence; now she came to see him faithfully, and tried to cheer him, but was plainly cowed. Her self-control had vanished. She clung to him passionately8, weeping. He was forced to what should have been her role; and in cheering her he managed to gain a modicum9 of self-confidence for himself. She left him at midnight, much reassured10.
But on Monday morning Cora's cell door was thrown open, and he was motioned forth11 by a grave man, who conducted him through echoing gloomy corridors to the committee room, where he was left facing the tables and the men who sat behind them. Cora's natural buoyancy vanished. The men before him met his gaze with rigid12, unbending solemnity. The rain beat mournfully against the windows, blurring13 the glass, casting the high apartment in a half gloom. Nobody moved or spoke14. All looked at him. The echo of his footsteps died, and the room was cast in stillness except for the soft dashing of the storm.
"Charles Cora," at last pronounced Coleman in measured tones, "you are here on trial for your life, accused with the murder of United States Marshal Richardson."
Cora, who was a plucky15 man, had recovered his wits. He must have realized that he was in a tight place, but he kept his head admirably. His demeanour took on alertness, his manner throughout was respectful, and his voice low.
"Do I get no counsel?" he inquired.
"Counsel will be given you."
He put in an earnest plea for counsel outside the tribunal--impartial counsel.
"Our members are impartial," Coleman told him.
Cora hesitated; locking about him.
"If Mr. Truett will act for me," he suggested; "and I beg you earnestly, gentlemen, that the excitement of the time may not be prejudicial to my interests, that I may have a chance for my life!"
"Your trial will be fair," he was assured.
"I shall undertake the defence," Truett agreed briefly16; "and petition that Mr. Smiley be appointed as my assistant."
This being granted, the three men drew one side for a consultation17. In a short time Truett handed to the sergeant-at-arms--the same man who had conducted Cora to the tribunal--a list of the witnesses Cora wished to summon. These were at once sought by a subcommittee outside. In the meantime, witnesses for the prosecution18 were one by one admitted, sworn, and examined. All ordinary forms of law were closely followed. All essential facts were separately brought out. It was the historic Cora trial over again, with one difference--gone were the technical delays. By dusk Keith, who had been called at three, had all but completed the long tale of his testimony19, had finished recounting, not only what he had seen of the quarrel and the subsequent shooting, but also a detailed20 account of the trial, the adverse21 influences brought to bear on the prosecution, and his investigations22 into the question of "undue24 influence." No attempt was made to confine the investigation23 to the technical trial.
Keith was the last witness for the prosecution. And the witnesses for the defence, where were they? Of the list submitted by Cora not one could be found! In hiding, afraid, the perjurers would not appear!
The dusk was falling in earnest now. The corners of the room were in darkness. Beneath Coleman's desk Bluxome, the secretary, had lighted an oil lamp the better to see his notes. In the interest of Keith's testimony the general illumination had not been ordered. Outside the tiny patch of yellow light the men of Vigilance sat motionless, listening, their shadows dim and huge against the wall.
The door opened, and Charles Doane, the Grand Marshal of the Vigilantes, advanced three steps into the room.
"Mr. President," he said clearly, his voice cutting the stillness, "I am instructed to announce that James King of William is dead."
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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modicum
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| n.少量，一小份 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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blurring
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| n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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15
plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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