He did not care about breakfast or tea. He liked being fed once a day, like the lions in a menagerie, or the bull terriers in the mews. His anxiety was great to see what his hot dinner was. It happened to be a soup day; and his disgust on finding that he was to dine off a little thin broth and a piece of bread defies description. He entreated the warder, in the sweetest tones his rough voice could command, to bring him something better than that. The warder only laughed at him. From entreaties he passed to threats, and from threats to a savage blow with his fist, which would have annihilated the jocund official had he not parried it with the iron door, which rang beneath the shock, and covered the brawny hand with blood. He howled with pain, and stretched himself on his bed in sulky silence. After this he became a little more tractable; contenting himself with grumbling at everything that was brought him. His sister paid him a visit. She informed him that she had obtained some money towards paying counsel for his defence. Upon hearing this he seemed greatly pleased; despite his recklessness and bravado, he had become sad and serious as the time for the opening of the assizes approached. He still clung to hope, even as a drowning man might cling to a spar. At length the day arrived on which the trial had been appointed to take place. The facts connected with the charge of murder were simple enough. Jane Ryan, who had become by this time a sort of heroine, was the chief witness; but there were others who were to be called as witnesses for the Crown, who to a great extent could corroborate her evidence. Jane, when placed in the box, was calm and self-possessed. She swore most positively to the prisoner as being the man who stabbed James Hopgood. She averred that she had a distinct and vivid recollection of every minute circumstance attendant upon the crime committed on that fatal night. The counsel for the defence by a series of cross questions and inuendoes, strove to throw a doubt upon her testimony. But Jane never wavered for a moment. Her answers were clear and concise. Every word she uttered bore the impress of truth. Her cross-examination was continued for so long a time that it became wearisome. There was, of course, the usual wrangling between the advocates as to what was admissible as evidence. Objections were taken to some of the questions put to the witnesses, and an appeal was made to the judge, who overruled certain objections, and admitted others. Jane’s former master and her fellow-servant were the next. They both swore positively to the prisoner as the same person who stabbed the young carpenter. Eight other witnesses were examined, amongst whom were the two Messrs. Ashbrook and the policemen. The weight of evidence was clearly against the prisoner, and after retiring for a short time the jury returned a “Verdict of Guilty,” upon the charge of wilful murder.