But the
distress of the poor girl increased with every moment of thought, which
warned her of the predicament in which such a statement must necessarily
involve her uncle. "Oh, how can I speak all this? How can I tell that
which must destroy him--"
"Him?--Of whom do you speak, lady? Who is _he_?" inquired the attorney
of the state.
"He--who?--Oh, no, I can say nothing. I can tell you nothing. I know
nothing but that Mr. Colleton is _not_ guilty. He struck no blow at
Forrester. I am sure of it--some other hand--some other person. How can
you believe that he would do so?"
There was no such charitable thought for him, however, in the minds of
those who heard--as how should there be? A whispering dialogue now took
place between the judge and the counsel, in which, while they evidently
looked upon her as little better than demented with her love for the
accused, they still appeared to hold it due to justice, not less than to
humanity, to obtain from her every particular of testimony bearing on
the case, which, by possibility, she might really have in her
possession.
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