CHAPTER VI.
A PAINFUL MEETING.
Not for a long time had the judge been so perplexed as he was overMary's case.
"For three days," he said, "it has been before us, and we have not madethe least advance towards the solution of the mystery. If I could seeany possibility of the ring having been taken by any one else, I shouldcertainly believe this girl innocent, but the evidence is so clearagainst her, that it is impossible to believe anything else."
The Countess was again examined and questioned thoroughly; the minutestcircumstances being inquired into. Juliette was also examined again.
A whole day was spent by the judge in going over their testimony, andweighing against it the words that Mary had uttered in her examination.It was late at night when the judge sent to the prison for Mary'sfather to be brought to his house.
"James," said he kindly, "I am known perhaps as a strict man, but I donot think that you can reproach me with ever having intentionallyinjured any one. I do not need to tell you that I do not desire thedeath of your daughter. All the details of the case, however, provethat she must have committed the theft, and, under these circumstances,you are aware that the penalty which the law requires is death. Butyour daughter is young, and, notwithstanding the serious nature of thecrime, if she were to return the ring even now, a pardon might begranted to her. To persist so obstinately in denying her guilt willmost certainly end in her death. Go to her, James; insist upon herreturning the ring, and I give you my word that the penalty of deathwill not be visited upon her, but a mere trifling punishmentsubstituted. As her father you have great power over her. If you cannotobtain a confession, most people will think that you have been anaccomplice with your daughter in the crime. Once more, I repeat, if thering is not found, I pity your case."
"My daughter has not stolen the ring," replied James sadly; "of that Iam sure. That she will not therefore acknowledge her guilt, I knowbeforehand. But I will speak to her as you desire. I will employ everymeans to find it out, and if it be that she is to perish,notwithstanding her innocence, it is a comfort to know that I can seeher once again before the terrible event."
Accompanied by an officer, the old man went to the prison where Marywas confined. The officer set a lamp upon a projection of the wall in acorner of the cell, on which also stood an earthen pitcher of water.Mary was lying on her straw bed, with her face turned towards the wall,partially asleep. The light of the lamp woke her from her troubledslumber, and, turning over and seeing her father, she uttered a cry ofjoy and raised herself hastily, forgetting her chains. Almost fainting,she threw herself upon her father's neck, and the old man sat down withher upon her bed and pressed her in his arms. For some time they bothremained silent and mingled their tears together. At length James brokethe silence and began to speak as the judge had instructed him.
"She raised herself hastily, forgetting her chains."_See page 44._]
"Oh, my father," said Mary, in a reproachful voice, interrupting him,"surely you at least do not doubt my innocence. Alas," she continued,weeping bitterly, "is there no one who believes me innocent, no one,not even my father! Oh, my dear father, believe me that I am innocent."
"Calm yourself, my dear child; I believe you entirely. I am only doingnow what I have been instructed to do by the judge."
There was a silence for a little while in the cell. The old man lookedat his daughter and saw her cheeks pale and hollow with grief, her eyesred and swollen with weeping, and her hair hanging dishevelled abouther.
"My dear child," he said, "God has suffered you to be tried veryseverely; but I fear lest there should be a worse trial to come, morepainful sufferings than any you have yet undergone. Alas, perhaps evenmy dear child's head may fall by the hands of the executioner!"
"My father," said Mary soothingly, "I care but little for myself. Butfor you----"
"Fear nothing for me, my dear Mary," said her father, "I run norisk----"
"Oh," cried Mary, "thank God! If that is the case, a great load istaken off my heart. For myself, all is well. Be sure, my dear father, Ifear not to die. I shall go to God; I shall find my Saviour. I shallalso see my mother in heaven. That will be a great happiness."
Deeply moved at his daughter's words, the old man wept like a child.
"Well, God be praised," said he, clasping his aged hands together, "Godbe praised for your submissive spirit. It is very hard for a manstricken in years, for a tender father to lose his only child, thechild of his love, his only consolation, the joy of his old age, andhis last support, but," he continued, "may the will of the Lord bedone."
"One word," said he, a moment afterwards; "Juliette has sworn falselyagainst you. On her oath she has declared that she saw the ring in yourhands. If you perish, you will perish by her testimony. But you willpardon her, my Mary--is it not so? You do not take with you any feelingof hatred towards her. Alas, even upon this bed of straw, and loadedwith chains, you are still more happy than she is, living in theCountess's palace and dressed in fine clothes, and with everything thather heart can desire. It is better to die innocent than to livedishonoured. Pardon her, my child, as thy Saviour pardoned His enemieson the cross. Do you pardon her?" the old man asked anxiously.
Mary assured her father that she did. And now the officer was heardcoming to separate them.
"Well," said her father, "I commend you to God and His grace. If Ishould not see you again, if this is the last time that I am permittedto talk with you, my daughter, at least be sure that I will not be longin following you to heaven. You may depend upon it that I shall notlong survive this parting."
The time was now up, and, warned by the officer, the old man preparedto take his departure. Mary clung to him with all her strength, but herfather was obliged to disengage himself as gently as he could, and Maryfell insensible upon her bed.
As soon as James was brought before the judge, he raised his hands toheaven, and cried out, almost beside himself--
"My daughter is innocent!"
The judge was deeply moved.
"I am disposed," he said, "for my own part to believe it.Unfortunately, I must judge the case from the nature of the testimony,with impartiality and even to the utmost rigour of the law."