"You--you--" Her voice failed her, and relaxing her grasp, she clung to
the table for support. Shirley ran to her, held her, saying gently:--
"Miriam, dear, you are beside yourself--come, come away!"
But Miriam braced herself and resolutely shook herself free from her
friend.
"No," she replied evenly, "I am not going!" and her voice rose as she
went on: "Don't let anybody go! What I have to say I want all of you to
hear!" And tottering over toward the bench as the spectators pressed
tumultuously forward, Peter Broderick among the rest, she exclaimed:--
"Your Honour! Your Honour!"
"What is it, Madam?" asked the justice. And considering that the Court
believed that it had to deal with a case of hysteria, the voice was
surprisingly little tinged with irritability; but then the learned judge
felt that he must make some concession to a woman of Mrs. Challoner's
high social standing; and therefore he added politely: "You must be
brief."
"I shall be brief," answered Mrs. Challoner, sending an accusing glance
toward the prosecutor. "I desire to make a charge against Mr.
Murgatroyd, the prosecutor of the pleas!" She was well contained, but
her tone was harsh, cutting.
The Court glanced sympathetically at her, and then smiled gently,
indulgently in the direction of the prosecutor.
"I accuse him of bribery!" she went on. "He promised to set my husband
free!"
Shirley Bloodgood clutched her once more, pleading with her to stop.
"Miriam, what are you saying? You must stop this...."
"Bribery?" asked the justice, somewhat startled. "Bribery?"
For an instant there was a subdued uproar. Graham Thorne pressed forward
toward the Court; Broderick from the crowd behind pushed his way into
the enclosure; reporters thrust their pads and pencils into the scene;
spectators stirred, became noisy; but Murgatroyd never moved.
"Let Mrs. Challoner go on," demanded Thorne.
The Court rapped loudly with his gavel; the crowd slumped into silence.
"Clear this court-room!" ordered the justice, standing up until his
command was obeyed.
The process took five minutes. At the end of that period none was left
within the room except the officers and those within the rail, which
included Broderick. No court-officer who valued his position dared to
disturb Broderick.
"Now close the doors!" ordered the justice.