others which tell against their own case, almost falling upon their knees to the jury, and staking their very reputation on the results,--and all these dishonourable, disgraceful, vile, and inhuman means and efforts exerted and called into action for the sake of sending a fellow-creature to the scaffold, or separating him for ever from the family that is dependant upon him, and that will starve without him! O God! is it possible that man can have been made for such sad purposes? is it possible that the being _whom thou hast created after thine own image_, should be so demon-like in heart? Oh! if the prisoner standing in the dock had inflicted some terrible injury upon the honour or the family of the barrister who holds a brief against him, then were it easy to comprehend that profound anxiety on the part of this barrister, to send the trembling criminal to the gallows! But, no--that barrister has no revenge to gratify--no hatred to assuage--no malignity to appease; he toils to take away that man's life, with all his strength, with all his talent, and with all his energy, because he has received gold to do his best to obtain a conviction! Ah! what a hideous traffic in flesh and blood! And if any one were to say to that barrister, "Thou art a blood-thirsty and merciless wretch," he would answer coolly and confidently, "No: on the other hand, I subscribe to philanthropic institutions!" The jury returned; and the feeling uppermost in their minds was satisfaction at the prospect of being so speedily dismissed, to their respective homes, where they would pursue their efforts after wealth, and speedily forget the youth whom they had condemned to punishment, and whose prospects they had blasted. For their verdict was _Guilty_! And the judges hastened to terminate the proceedings. Richard was commanded to rise, and receive the sentence of the court. He obeyed with a kind of mechanical precision--for his mental energies were entirely prostrated. The voice of the judge addressing him rang like the chimes of distant bells in his ears;--the numerous persons whom he beheld around, appeared to be all moving and agitating like an immense crowd assembled to witness an execution. He stood up as he was commanded; and the Judge proceeded to pass sentence upon him. He said that the court took his youth into consideration, and that there were circumstances which would render a very lenient sentence satisfactory to that society which had been outraged. The court accordingly condemned him to two years' imprisonment in the Giltspur Street Compter, without hard labour. "That's all!" said the spectators to each other; and they appeared disappointed! The audience then separated. CHAPTER XXXIII. ANOTHER DAY AT THE OLD BAILEY.