But Jo might have read it before it was spread upon the bench-put it there of purpose for him to read.

Yet what reason could Jo have for being silent, for hiding his secret?
There was silence for a space, in which Charley's eyes were like unmoving sparks of steel.

He did not see Jo's face--it was in a mist--he was searching, searching, searching.

All at once he felt the latch of the hidden door under his finger; he saw a court-room, a judge and jury, and hundreds of excited faces, himself standing in the midst.

He saw twelve men file slowly into the room and take their seats-all save one, who stood still in his place and said: "Not guilty, your Honour!" He saw the prisoner leave the box and step down a free man.