第26章BOOKTHESECOND：THEGOLDENTHREAD(9)

第26章bookthesecond：thegoldenthread(9)

asingularcircumstancethenaroseinthecase.theobjectinhandbeingtoshowthattheprisonerwentdown，withsomefellow-plotteruntracked，inthedovermailonthatfridaynightinnovemberfiveyearsago，andgotoutofthemailinthenight，asablind，ataplacewherehedidnotremain，butfromwhichhetravelledbacksomedozenmilesormore，toagarrisonanddockyard，andtherecollectedinformation；awitnesswascalledtoidentifyhimashavingbeenattheprecisetimerequired，inthecoffee-roomofanhotel，inthatgarrison-and-dockyardtown，waitingforanotherperson.theprisoner'scounselwascross-examiningthiswitnesswithnoresult，exceptthathehadneverseentheprisoneronanyotheroccasion，whentheedgentlemanwhohadallthistimebeenlookingattheceilingofthecourt，wroteawordortwoonalittlepieceofpaper，screweditup，andtossedittohim.openingthispieceofpaperinthenextpause，thecounsellookedwithgreatattentionandcuriosityattheprisoner.

'yousayagainyouarequitesurethatitwastheprisoner？'

thewitnesswasquitesure.

'didyoueverseeanybodyveryliketheprisoner？'

notsolike（thewitnesssaid）asthathecouldbemistaken.

'lookwelluponthatgentleman，mylearnedfriendthere，'pointingtohimwhohadtossedthepaperover，'andthenlookwellupontheprisoner.howsayyou？aretheyverylikeeachother？'

allowingformylearnedfriend'sappearancebeingcarelessandslovenlyifnotdebauched，theyweresufficientlylikeeachothertosurprise，notonlythewitness，buteverybodypresent，whentheywerethusbroughtintocomparison.mylordbeingprayedtobidmylearnedfriendlayasidehiswig，andgivingnoverygraciousconsent，thelikenessbecamemuchmoreremarkable.mylordinquiredofmr.stryver（theprisoner'scounsel），whethertheywerenexttotrymr.carton（nameofmylearnedfriend）fortreason？but，mr.stryverrepliedtomylord，no；buthewouldaskthewitnesstotellhimwhetherwhathappenedonce，mighthappentwice；whetherhewouldhavebeensoconfidentifhehadseenthisillustrationofhisrashnesssooner，whetherhewouldbesoconfident，havingseenit；andmore.theupshotofwhich，was，tosmashthiswitnesslikeacrockeryvessel，andshiverhispartofthecasetouselesslumber.

mr.cruncherhadbythistimetakenquitealunchofrustoffhisfingersinhisfollowingoftheevidence.hehadnowtoattendwhilemr.stryverfittedtheprisoner'scaseonthejury，likeacompactsuitofclothes；showingthemhowthepatriot，barsad，wasahiredspyandtraitor，anunblushingtraffickerinblood，andoneofthegreatestscoundrelsuponearthsinceaccursedjudas—whichhecertainlydidlookratherlike.howthevirtuousservant，cly，washisfriendandpartner，andwasworthytobe；how，thewatchfuleyesofthoseforgersandfalseswearershadrestedontheprisonerasavictim，becausesomefamilyaffairsinfrance，hebeingoffrenchextraction，didrequirehimmakingthosepassagesacrossthechannel—thoughwhatthoseaffairswere，aconsiderationforotherswhowerenearanddeartohim，forbadehim，evenforhislife，todisclose.howtheevidencethathadbeenwarpedandwrestedfromtheyounglady，whoseanguishingivingittheyhadwitnessed，cametonothing，involvingthemerelittleinnocentgallantriesandpolitenesslikelytopassbetweenanyyounggentlemanandyoungladysothrowntogether；—withtheexceptionofthatreferencetogeorgewashington，whichwasaltogethertooextravagantandimpossibletoberegardedinanyotherlightthanasamonstrousjoke.howitwouldbeaweaknessinthegovernmenttobreakdowninthisattempttopractiseforpopularityonthelowestnationalantipathiesandfears，andthereforemr.attorney-generalhadmadethemostofit；how，nevertheless，itresteduponnothing，savethatvileandinfamouscharacterofevidencetoooftendisfiguringsuchcases，andofwhichthestatetrialsofthiscountrywerefull.but，theremylordinterposed（withasgraveafaceasifithadnotbeentrue），sayingthathecouldnotsituponthatbenchandsufferthoseallusions.

mr.stryverthencalledhisfewwitnesses，andmr.cruncherhadnexttoattendwhilemr.attorney-generalturnedthewholesuitofclothesmr.stryverhadfittedonthejury，insideout：showinghowbarsadandclywereevenahundredtimesbetterthanhehadthoughtthem，andtheprisonerahundredtimesworse.lastly，camemylordhimself，turningthesuitofclothes，nowinsideout，nowoutsidein，butonthewholedecidedlytrimmingandshapingthemintograve-clothesfortheprisoner.

andnow，thejuryturnedtoconsider，andthegreatfliesswarmedagain.