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At that very moment； the figure； with its throat in the dreadful condition
referred to （this it had concealed before）； stood at the speaker's elbow；
motioning across and across its windpipe； now with the right hand； now
with the left； vigorously suggesting to the speaker himself the
impossibility of such a wound having been self…inflicted by either hand。
For another instance： a witness to character； a woman； deposed to the
prisoner's being the most amiable of mankind。 The figure at that instant
stood on the floor before her； looking her full in the face； and pointing out
the prisoner's evil countenance with an extended arm and an outstretched
finger。
The third change now to be added impressed me strongly as the most
marked and striking of all。 I do not theorise upon it； I accurately state it；
and there leave it。 Although the Appearance was not itself perceived by
those whom it addressed； its coming close to such persons was invariably
attended by some trepidation or disturbance on their part。 It seemed to me
as if it were prevented； by laws to which I was not amenable； from fully
revealing itself to others； and yet as if it could invisibly； dumbly； and
darkly overshadow their minds。 When the leading counsel for the defence
suggested that hypothesis of suicide； and the figure stood at the learned
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Three Ghost Stories
gentleman's elbow； frightfully sawing at its severed throat； it is undeniable
that the counsel faltered in his speech； lost for a few seconds the thread of
his ingenious discourse； wiped his forehead with his handkerchief； and
turned extremely pale。 When the witness to character was confronted by
the Appearance； her eyes most certainly did follow the direction of its
pointed finger； and rest in great hesitation and trouble upon the prisoner's
face。 Two additional illustrations will suffice。 On the eighth day of the trial；
after the pause which was every day made early in the afternoon for a few
minutes' rest and refreshment； I came back into Court with the rest of the
Jury some little time before the return of the Judges。 Standing up in the
box and looking about me； I thought the figure was not there； until；
chancing to raise my eyes to the gallery； I saw it bending forward； and
leaning over a very decent woman； as if to assure itself whether the Judges
had resumed their seats or not。 Immediately afterwards that woman
screamed； fainted； and was carried out。 So with the venerable； sagacious；
and patient Judge who conducted the trial。 When the case was over； and he
settled himself and his papers to sum up； the murdered man； entering by
the Judges' door； advanced to his Lordship's desk； and looked eagerly over
his shoulder at the pages of his notes which he was turning。 A change
came over his Lordship's face； his hand stopped； the peculiar shiver； that I
knew so well； passed over him； he faltered； 〃Excuse me； gentlemen； for a
few moments。 I am somewhat oppressed by the vitiated air；〃 and did not
recover until he had drunk a glass of water。
Through all the monotony of six of those interminable ten days；the
same Judges and others on the bench； the same Murderer in the dock； the
same lawyers at the table； the same tones of question and answer rising to
the roof of the court； the same scratching of the Judge's pen； the same
ushers going in and out； the same lights kindled at the same hour when
there had been any natural light of day； the same foggy curtain outside the
great windows when it was foggy； the same rain pattering and dripping
when it was rainy； the same footmarks of turnkeys and prisoner day after
day on the same sawdust； the same keys locking and unlocking the same
heavy doors；through all the wearisome monotony which made me feel as
if I had been Foreman of the Jury for a vast cried of time； and Piccadilly
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Three Ghost Stories
had flourished coevally with Babylon； the murdered man never lost one
trace of his distinctness in my eyes； nor was he at any moment less distinct
than anybody else。 I must not omit； as a matter of fact； that I never once
saw the Appearance which I call by the name of the murdered man look at
the Murderer。 Again and again I wondered； 〃Why does he not？〃 But he
never did。
Nor did he look at me； after the production of the miniature； until the
last closing minutes of the trial arrived。 We retired to consider； at seven
minutes before ten at night。 The idiotic vestryman and his two parochial
parasites gave us so much trouble that we twice returned into Court to beg
to have certain extracts from the Judge's notes re…read。 Nine of us had not
the smallest doubt about those passages； neither； I believe； had any one in
the Court； the dunder…headed triumvirate； having no idea but obstruction；
disputed them for that very reason。 At length we prevailed； and finally the
Jury returned into Court at ten minutes past twelve。
The murdered man at that time stood directly opposite the Jury…box；
on the other side of the Court。 As I took my place； his eyes rested on me
with great attention； he seemed satisfied； and slowly shook a great gray
veil； which he carried on his arm for the first time； over his head and
whole form。 As I gave in our verdict； 〃Guilty；〃 the veil collapsed； all was
gone； and his place was empty。
The Murderer； being asked by the Judge； according to usage； whether
he had anything to say before sentence of Death should be passed upon
him； indistinctly muttered something which was described in the leading
newspapers of the following day as 〃a few rambling； incoherent； and half…
audible words； in which he was understood to complain that he had not
had a fair trial； because the Foreman of the Jury was prepossessed against
him。〃 The remarkable declaration that he really made was this： 〃MY
LORD； I KNEW I WAS A DOOMED MAN； WHEN THE FOREMAN
OF MY JURY CAME INTO THE BOX。 MY LORD； I KNEW HE
WOULD NEVER LET ME OFF； BECAUSE； BEFORE I WAS TAKEN；
HE SOMEHOW GOT TO MY BEDSIDE IN THE NIGHT； WOKE ME；
AND PUT A ROPE ROUND MY NECK。〃
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