"Gabriel Godlike, you are now about to be put on trial before the Court of Ten Millions." There was a long pause; and Godlike, on the moment, remembered every detail which Harry Royalton had poured into his ears, concerning this Court of Ten Millions; its power backed by ten millions of dollars,--its jurisdiction over crimes that 'Courts of Justice' could not reach,--its sessions held in the deep silence of night, and its judgments executed as soon as pronounced. Vividly the story of Harry rose before him; the accusation, the trial, the judgment, the lash, and the back of the criminal covered with stripes and blood. "The Court of Ten Millions,"--the voice was heard again,--"as you are, doubtless, aware, is thus called, because its power is backed by ten millions of dollars. It exists to punish those crimes which, perchance, from their very magnitude, go unpunished by other courts of justice. It exists to judge and punish two classes of crime in especial: crimes committed for the _love of money_, by the man who seeks to enjoy _labor's fruits_, without sharing _labor's works_; crimes committed by the man who uses his _wealth_, or _the accident of his social position_, as the means of oppressing his fellow-creature, even the poorest and the meanest. Your mind is profound in analysis. You are able, at a glance, to trace nearly all the wrongs which desolate society, and mar the purposes of God in this world, to the classes of crimes which have been named." There was another long pause. Gabriel had time for thought. "Gabriel Godlike! Detected in a gross outrage upon a woman whom you thought poor and friendless,--detected in using your wealth and your social position as the means of achieving that woman's dishonor, you are now about to be put on trial before the Court of Ten Millions." Another pause. Gabriel began to recover his scattered senses. The bandage across his mouth concealed the sardonic smile which flitted over his lips. "A sort of _Vixhme Gericht_,--something from the dark ages,"--he ejaculated, mentally. And yet he did not feel comfortable. There was Harry Royalton's back; he had seen it. "But _they_ would not dare to flog a statesman,--me! Gabriel Godlike!" "Still you are at liberty to refuse a trial before this court,"--the voice spoke again,--"but upon one condition. In a room not far removed from this, removed from hearing, and yet within a moment's call, are gathered at this moment a number of gentlemen, who have been summoned to this house on various pretexts; gentlemen, you will remark, of all political parties, high in social position, and bearing the reputation of honorable minded and moral men. Your strongest political friends, your bitterest political opponents are there." Gabriel began to listen with attention.