It may be that one or more of them will break down under cross-examination, and that all will then be straight.

But if not, the twelve men in a box will believe them because they are four, not understanding that in such a case four may conspire as easily as two or three.

There will be the Judge, no doubt; but English judges are always favourable to convictions.

The Judge begins with the idea that the man before him would hardly have been brought there had he not been guilty.' In all this, and very much more that he said both to Mr.Bromley and his son, he was expressing his contempt for the world around him rather than any opinion of his own on this particular matter.

'I often think,' said he, 'that we have to bear more from the stupidity than from the wickedness of the world.' It should be mentioned that about a week after Hester's escape from Chesterton there came to her a letter from her mother.
'DEAREST HESTER,--You do not think that I do not love you because I tried to protect you from what I believe to be sin and evil and temptation?
You do not think that I am less your mother because I caused you suffering?
If your eye offend you, pluck it out.