,
and indeed every human being, was guiltless of this murder. I had no fear,
therefore, that any circumstantial evidence could be brought forward strong
enough to convict her. My tale was not one to announce publicly; its astounding
horror would be looked upon as madness by the vulgar. Did any one indeed exist,
except I, the creator, who would believe, unless his senses convinced him, in
the existence of the living monument of presumption and rash ignorance which I
had let loose upon the world?
    We were soon joined by Elizabeth. Time had altered her since I last beheld
her; it had endowed her with loveliness surpassing the beauty of her childish
years. There was the same candour, the same vivacity, but it was allied to an
expression more full of sensibility and intellect. She welcomed me with the
greatest affection. »Your arrival, my dear cousin,« said she, »fills me with
hope. You perhaps will find some means to justify my poor guiltless Justine.
Alas! who is safe, if she be convicted of crime? I rely on her innocence as
certainly as I do upon my own. Our misfortune is doubly hard to us; we have not
only lost that lovely darling boy, but this poor girl, whom I sincerely love, is
to be torn away by even a worse fate. If she is condemned, I never shall know
joy more. But she will not, I am sure she will not; and then I shall be happy
again, even after the sad death of my little William.«
    »She is innocent, my Elizabeth,« said I, »and that shall be proved; fear
nothing, but let your spirits be cheered by the assurance of her acquittal.«
    »How kind and generous you are! every one else believes in her guilt, and
that made me wretched, for I knew that it was impossible: and to see every one
else prejudiced in so deadly a manner rendered me hopeless and despairing.« She
wept.
    »Dearest niece,« said my father, »dry your tears. If she is, as you believe,
innocent, rely on the justice of our laws, and the activity with which I shall
prevent the slightest shadow of partiality.«
 

                                  Chapter VIII

We passed a few sad hours, until eleven o'clock, when the trial was to commence.
My father and the rest of the family being obliged to attend as witnesses, I
accompanied them to the court. During the whole of this wretched mockery of
justice I suffered living torture. It was to be decided
