We looked at each other in silence. I was about to speak when a bell rang, and a strong voice called out: ‘Time’s up!’ The prize-fighter was gone. A warder marched quickly along to Tom and touched him on the shoulder, and my uncle called to me: ‘Come, Marian.’ Tom cried: ‘God bless you, dear,’ but my vision was blind with tears, a sudden swooning headache made me stagger, and until I was in the street I was scarcely sensible of more than of being led through the passages and out through the gate by my uncle. CHAPTER X SHE ATTENDS HER SWEETHEART’S TRIAL Down to the date of the trial, suspense and expectation lay in so crushing a burden upon me that life was hardly supportable. In this time I ceased to wonder that people had the courage to perish by their own hands. Twice after that first visit I saw Tom in Newgate, but those interviews were restricted by the rules of the place to a quarter of an hour, and always the bell sounded and the rude voice of the warder broke in at the moment when I had most to say and most to hearken to. The trial of my sweetheart took place at the Central Criminal Court on April 17th. The judge was the stony-hearted Maule--memory may deceive me, but I am almost sure it was Mr. Justice Maule. For Tom’s defence my uncle had secured the services of the celebrated Mr. Sergeant Shee, with whom were Mr. Doane and Mr. C. Jones. I drove down to the Old Bailey with my aunt early in the morning. The court was not inconveniently crowded. It was one of those cases which do not excite much attention. A Cash-man or a Bishop would have blocked the court with eager spectators of both sexes, but the perils and crimes of the ocean do not appeal to the land-going public. The judge took his seat at ten o’clock, and Tom was brought in and placed at the bar, charged by indictment that ‘he endeavoured, feloniously and maliciously, to cast away and destroy a certain vessel called the _Arab Chief_ on the high sea, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England, and also of the Central Criminal Court, with intent to prejudice divers persons as part owners of or underwriters to the same vessel.’ He pleaded ‘Not guilty.’ He spoke very low, but his tones were steady. He looked ill, haggard, and wasted. A great number of persons who were to appear as witnesses were in court, and I searched the many faces with burning eyes for the two wretches who had brought my sweetheart and me to this horrible pass. But my aunt did not know them, and there was no one at hand to tell me which among those men were Rotch and Nodder.