Page:In Maremma, by Ouida (vol 3).djvu/231

 This doubt was such agony to her that at times it conquered her reason, and she would shake the bars that divided her from sea and sky, and cry aloud to the gulls and ships to take her message to him, to tell him where she was mewed up against her will, torn away from her moors and her beach, and her innocent liberties of wind and sunshine.

The next day but one they led her out to be examined. She regained her self-control, and was quite calm, though very pale.

'I have done nothing wrong,' she said to her guards; 'wherefore should I be afraid?'

They set her before her judge, the Pretore of the court there, a lawyer in black gown and cap. He was startled by her look, by her solemn luminous eyes, the repose of her attitude, the contempt upon her beautiful mouth.

'She is no criminal,' he thought, and called for the deposition of the testimony against her

Then the steward, who gave his name and that of his lord, gave his declaration of