The Argosy — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Sapphire Cross. 10g token, and Guido taking it from him rather hastily said that it had been given him to pawn by a young girl living in the house which he had just quitted. Pietro going out shortly heard all the newspaper sellers bawling the news of the murder. Impelled by curiosity he went to the scene of the event, and found a crowd round the door and Carlotta talking volubly. She mentioned that among other objects a sapphire cross was missing, and the witness in the first moment of surprise let slip that he had just seen such an object in the prisoner’s hands. ‘I was a prating idiot,” observed the young man, remorsefully. ‘On the contrary, to serve the ends of justice, even against a friend, is an act of which every good citizen should be proud,” replied the President. This Spartan remark raised a little applause, especially among the ushers ; but it is to be supposed that Pietro Siccoli was not inspired with a spirit of lofty patriotism, for he looked unconvinced. ‘‘ Besides mentioning the prisoner’s possession of the cross, did you also report how he accounted for it?” asked the Judge. “Of course I did,” exclaimed Pietro, naively. ‘I told everybody over and over again. It was the only way in which I could hope to undo the mischief I had done.” The President cleared his throat somewhat elaborately, and the Public Prosecutor swooped down on the proceedings with a peculiarly trenchant interrogation. Pietro was riddled with questions ; he grew confused, hot, miserable, and was dismissed at last in a condition of bewildered despair. The next called was Count Cioronski, whose appearance naturally caused a sensation. Every neck was craned in his direction; every eye-glass levelled at him as he entered dressed in the deepest mourn- ing, and took the oath in a voice almost inaudible. ‘ How ill he looks! But so elegant! ... so distinguished ! . what a dreadful position! ... Imagine his feelings!.. . He will not look at the prisoner. . . . No wonder. . . . I hope the wretch will be punished!” were among the remarks to be heard, and most of them proceeded from ladies. The Count did indeed keep his head studiously: averted from Guido, and for the first few moments it was evident that his emotion nearly overpowered him. ‘Those nearest to him noting his livid pallor, and the strange, hunted expression of his restless eyes, trembled lest he should be betrayed into one of his gusts of fury, or suffer a return of his distressing malady. But the marked sympathy of the President’s bearing and the respectful compassion visible on the faces of the listeners, doubtless contributed to calm hin, for little by little he resumed his natural manner. His evidence in some intangible aoe ar the more effective for its very intangibility—was singularly hostile to Guido. And every word uttered by him gained a double meaning and a double force from that GomiiGivooksnco