three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第18章
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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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