Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/324

 "Yes! He says he never heard a speech like that before in his life, and he says if he lives to be a hundred years old he will never forget it."

"Who was her lawyer? Sir Somebody, K. C., M. P.?"

"My father-in-law says not. He says he was quite a young chap without any reputation. But such a voice—he says it just went through you and made you shiver."

"Something like Irving?"

"My father-in-law says he must have been acting, yet there didn't seem to be a bit of the actor about him. That's where he was so wonderful; struck no attitudes; never even raised his voice. Every word seemed to come straight out of him, as though he just couldn't help it, and yet at first all the jury thought she was a thorough bad one."

"So she was, I expect."

"I dare say; but after what her lawyer had said they never thought of bringing in a verdict of guilty. My father-in-law says he was a wonderfully read young fellow, and he must have known the Bible almost by heart from the way in which he used it in his speech. And such an eye as he had too! My father-in-law says it looked like that of an eagle; and when the jury retired to consider the verdict the foreman, who had got a weak heart, had to have brandy or he would have fainted dead away."

"It was very strange that the judge should have died suddenly."

"Excitement killed him, they do say."

"You would think that a judge would be so used to that sort of thing that it wouldn't affect him."