Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/333

When, therefore, Sylvester—after having placed his defence to the action in the hands of the doctor's attorney—went down to Cotherstone, with the view of explaining all that had occurred before the case should appear more pointedly in the papers, he found nothing there to strike him with any great degree of astonishment. But conceive the amazement of his aunt and her reverend friend, when he stated to them the fact of his being the defendant in an action for criminal conversation! Conceive the horror with which they heard that statement made, and the relief which they experienced, when he wound up all by a solemn declaration of his innocence! Nothing could be more touching, or more sincere, than the expressions of their belief in this solemn declaration. And yet, to them, how extraordinary it appeared that precisely the same thing which occurred to the father, should thus have occurred to the son.

"There must be," observed Aunt Eleanor, when she and her reverend friend were alone, "some deep mystery in this."

"It is, certainly," said the reverend gentleman, "the most mysterious thing I ever heard or read of."

"Heaven grant that the consequences may not be the same."

"I say Amen to that. But, if he be innocent, I do not see how they can prove him to be guilty. The case must be tried before a judge, and no judge could allow a young man like him to be cast unjustly."

"That I apprehend depends entirely upon the evidence—does it not?"

"Exactly. But what evidence—what clear, substantial evidence—can be brought against an innocent man? For example: suppose I were accused of burning a house down; would I not, if I were innocent, defy all the world to prove me guilty? What evidence could be brought forward to prove me guilty of that of which I was innocent?"

"Circumstantial evidence," said Sylvester, who at the moment re-entered the room.

"Circumstantial evidence, I grant, has frequently led to conviction; but then it must be very strong and conclusive. What circumstantial evidence could be sufficient in, for instance, a case like yours?"

"In cases like mine, the proof, almost invariably, depends upon circumstantial evidence."

"But what evidence—what sufficient evidence—of any kind, can they bring against you?"

"There is the evidence of the butler, who is ready to swear that he saw me in the house at the time."

"I must go to town and talk to that butler. I must see that man. His soul is in peril. It is necessary that he should know that. I have a great mind to go to-morrow morning."

Sylvester smiled at his reverend friend's simplicity, and observed that he feared that that would be of little use.

"I don't know that," resumed the reverend gentleman. "Men have been induced, under similar circumstances, to turn from the pursuit of evil. It may be that this man has been bribed by his master—I do not say that he has been—but such things are possible: indeed, if my memory serves me right, I have read in some book that such things have