THE VERDICT.
The Court was, if possible, more crowded than ever when the case was
resumed. The atmosphere was oppressive in the extreme, and the attention
of everyone was strained to the utmost when Dr. Haddon rose to open the
defence.
"May it please your worship. This case has been described by my learned
friend as unprecedented in the annals of Australian history. I have no
doubt that such is the case, but I sincerely hope from this day onward
it may become a common occurrence."
The effect of this opening was electrical and caused a sensation in the
Court. The Justices whispered portentously among themselves, in doubt
whether the counsel should not be pulled up short.
"I repeat my words," continued the advocate. "I hope it will become a
common occurrence, and furthermore I venture to say that there is not an
Australian present in this building who will not agree with me when he
has heard the evidence. Now the plaintiff, Villiers Wyckliffe, has
informed us through his counsel that he lived the life of an English
gentleman. The only comment I make on that is to say that his class will
need all the help Heaven can give them, for I shall prove their
representative to be a villain of the deepest dye. He has acknowledged
his connection with the Detlij Club, an infamous institution which is
the expression of the depravity, the callousness, the cynicism, the
degradation of English Society. He acknowledged also that he was the
owner of this stick, and, in spite of his denial, I shall have little
difficulty in proving to the satisfaction of the Court that the notches
were placed there by his own hand, and that each notch represented was
airily described as a broken heart. When I mention to your worship that
the notches are fifty in number it will give some indication of the
plaintiffs character."
Dr. Haddon had struck the right key-note, and everyone in Court hung
upon his words. The silence was profound, and each listener's eager
attention grew in intensity as he proceeded to detail the peculiar power
of fascination--snake-like, he called it--possessed by the plaintiff.
Without any assistance from turgid rhetoric, or indignant denunciation,
he depicted it in a manner so simple, yet so direct, that his audience
shivered in response. Then, with consummate art, he played upon their
sensibilities by picturing the simple homeliness of Amy Johnson's happy
family circle, on to the fervour of Reg's devotion, the complete
happiness of the young couple up to their disunion under the diabolical
arts of Wyckliffe. Gently, but still with a power that swayed them in
their own despite, he wrung their sympathies from them with a pathetic
recital of Amy's death, showed the blank in the happy home, and roused
them to a pitch of enthusiasm over his client's oath of vengeance.
"I have witnesses from England," he continued, "who will speak to his
dastardly gallantries there. I have girls from all parts of
Australia"--here a constable whispered in his ear. "This constable tells
me, your worship, that he has some difficulty in keeping the witnesses
I have just alluded to under control. They have expressed a unanimous
wish to have an interview with the plaintiff."
The suggestion of Wyckliffe being handed over to the tender mercies of
his Australian victims seemed to tickle the audience and a faint ripple
of laughter went round the crowded Court. Wyck, who had been growing
more and more fidgetty, here held an excited conversation with his
counsel, who rose and said:
"Your worship, my client complains of feeling unwell. May we adjourn?"
"I object to an adjournment," said Dr. Haddon, promptly.
"Then my client instructs me to withdraw the case, as he does not wish
to carry the matter further."
"What's that?" said the Chairman, in surprise.
"Well, your worship, if you will allow me to explain," said Mr. Qurves,
in his impressive way, "I should like to say that I have never given up
a case with greater pleasure than I do this one, for I am an Australian
born and I consider the defendants acted like men, and I wish publicly
to apologise for anything I have said to their discredit. I consider
them an honour to our country."
"Hear, hear. Hurrah!" burst from all sides.
"Silence!" cried the crier, but he cried in vain.
When silence was in some measure restored, the Chairman remarked:
"If Mr. Wyckliffe wishes to withdraw from the prosecution there is
nothing left for the Bench but to dismiss the case. The defendants have
undoubtedly broken the law, which we are here to administer, but though
we are magistrates, our sympathy is for the Australians, and I cannot
help saying that I am glad that our duty demands from us nothing that
will prevent them from quitting the Court."
Ringing cheers here broke out from all quarters, which no one wished to
check. Even members of the Bench were seen to join in the applause. The
Inspector, fearing Wyck might be roughly handled, got him away quietly
and sent him off in a cab to his hotel.
Enthusiasm ran high, and the boys had considerable difficulty in leaving
the Court. At last they got safely into a cab, but even then the crowd
refused to leave them unmolested, and the horse was removed and they
were dragged in triumph to their hotel.
That evening, the young Australians gave a big banquet at the Town Hall,
at which they were the honoured guests. Toasts and complimentary
speeches followed one another in rapid succession. Australians love
their country, but they love the honour of their women above all.
Everywhere the boys were feted and made much of, and it was a relief to
them when they were able to accompany the girls and Mr. and Mrs. Whyte
to Tasmania for a lengthy stay at Goodchild's. Here they rested till Reg
had recovered his melancholy, till the memory of Wyck and his infamy had
become like an evil dream, and life seemed again to offer him a share in
its joys, and the future held out the prospect of many happy days to
come.