“You will go to her and ask her--beg her to leave the court. I ask it as the last favor I shall ever demand of her; I beg of her, in the name of the friendship which existed between us, to leave the court and go home.” Mr. Edgar inclined his head. “I will do as you wish, my lord,” he said; and he left the cell. If that were possible, the excitement had increased during the luncheon hour, and the crush in and about the court was greater than it had been when the trial commenced. Olivia, the squire, and Bessie had not left their seats. Mr. Edgar, when he entered the court, made his way toward them. “Mr. Vanley, I believe?” he said. The squire nodded. “I ask your permission to speak a few words to Mrs. Bradstone,” he said. Olivia rose, inwardly trembling, but outwardly calm. “I have just seen Lord Clydesfold, madam,” he said, “and he has asked me to be the bearer of a message to you.” Olivia’s lips moved. “He has asked me to beg you to leave the court and avoid this, which must be a most painful scene.” “He asked you that?” said Olivia. “He wishes me to go?” “Yes, madam; he does most earnestly.” “Will you tell him,” said Olivia, “that I will do anything he asks me but that? I cannot go.” Mr. Edgar bowed respectfully and went toward his place, an expression of keen, earnest thought on his face. There was a buzz of the most profound interest and curiosity when, pale and haggard, but still calm, and with a kind of weary indifference, the prisoner was led into the dock. As the judge took his seat upon the bench, Mr. Edgar rose. “My lord,” he said, “I have had an interview with the prisoner, and upon the result of that interview I have to ask your lordship to adjourn the trial until next sessions.” A murmur of astonishment ran through the court. The judge looked grave. “This is a very unusual application, Mr. Edgar, at such a period. I do not know that I should be warranted in adjourning the trial, unless you can assure me that you have evidence directly bearing upon the alleged murder, evidence which has only just come into your possession.” An older man might have made the assertion with brazen confidence, but Mr. Edgar labored under the disadvantage of being a young and honest man. “As to evidence, my lord,” he began, with a slight hesitation. But Mr. Sewell rose. “My lord,” he said, “it is my duty to oppose the application of my learned friend. If, as your lordship said, he had come into possession of material evidence, I, as representing the Crown, should certainly not oppose his application. But I would point out to your lordship that, as we think, our chain of evidence for the prosecution is complete and unbroken, and I submit that the adjournment would be both unusual and uncalled for.” “I am afraid I must agree with Mr. Sewell,” said the judge, gravely. “The trial must proceed; we must go on.”