THE ESCORT--THE TRIAL.
"Marseilles at last!" exclaimed Dick Harvey, as the train came to a
standstill.
"I thought we were never to end our journey," said little Emily.
However, they quickly got clear of the railway station, engaged
apartments at an hotel, and then, without waiting to eat or drink, made
their way towards the gaol.
"I wonder what house that is with the Union Jack flying over it," said
Mrs. Harkaway, as they passed along a street near the harbour.
"The British consulate very likely," said her husband "We had better
call there."
But the consul was not at home.
"Do you know where he is gone?" asked Harvey of the servant.
"Why, sir, there are some Englishmen to be tried to-day for coining,
and he is gone to watch the case."
"To-day?"
"Yes, sir; in fact, the trial will commence in ten minutes," replied
the man, after consulting his watch.
"Where does the trial take place?"
"The second turning on the left, sir. The hall of justice is a large
building just round the corner."
"Come along, then," said Harkaway; "there is no time to lose."
They hurried along the street at a rate that made the French people
stare.
Paquita was the first of the party to turn the corner, and she had no
sooner done so than she exclaimed--
"There they are."
And running between a file of soldiers, threw her arms round Harry
Girdwood's neck.
Little Emily would have followed her example, but the officer in charge
of the escort would not permit any such irregular conduct, and Paquita
was compelled to rejoin her friends.
"Hurrah, dad!" exclaimed young Jack; "I knew you would turn up in time.
And, mamma, how pale you are looking."
"Can you wonder at it, my boy, considering the anxiety we have all
suffered?"
"Mr. Mole, Mr. Mole," exclaimed Dick Harvey, shaking his head, "I am
surprised indeed to hear that you have taken to counterfeit coining."
"Harvey, this is really no joking matter," replied Mole.
"No, it will be no joke when you are chained to the oar in one of those
galleys down in the harbour."
"Stand back, ladies and gentlemen, if you please," exclaimed the
officer commanding the escort. "I cannot allow any communication with
my prisoners."
So they were obliged to keep at a distance.
At that moment a portly, elderly gentleman, who had been watching the
scene, came up, saying--
"Have I the honour of addressing Mr. Harkaway?"
"That is my name, sir."
"I am the English consul."
Our old hero at once seized him by the hand, saying--
"Sir, words are powerless to express how grateful I am for your
interference on behalf of my boy."
"Don't mention it, sir, I only did as I am instructed to do in all such
cases."
"But about the trial; what chance does that young scapegrace stand?"
"There is very little doubt that he will be acquitted, as we have the
best of evidence in his favour. But come along, sir, let us get into
court."
The consul led the way into the hall of justice, and placed the
Harkaway party among the audience in such a position that they could
see all that was going on, without being conspicuous themselves.
Then they waited patiently till the judge arrived.
* * * *
While our young hero's father and friends were thus entering
Marseilles, two people were trying to leave that city.
These were Herbert Murray and his friend Chivey.
"There ain't no use in stoppin' 'ere, guv'nor," the latter had said.
"We can see by the papers what they gets."
"You are right, Chivey; we will get away for a time."
"We can come back an' see 'em when they are fairly fixed, you know."
"Well, pack up, and we'll just take a trip to Paris for a week."
Their portmanteaus were quickly got ready, and a vehicle was engaged to
take them to the railway station.
But when they alighted, and were about to take their tickets, a very
polite police officer tapped Murray on the shoulder, and said--
"I much regret to have to ask monsieur to postpone his journey."
"What?"
"I must request Monsieur to defer his visit to Paris till after the
trial of the English coiners."
"What has that to do with me?"
"The judge may desire your presence, monsieur; he may wish to hear your
evidence."
"Nonsense!"
"It may be; but I am compelled to say that I cannot permit you to leave
Marseilles to-day, and I must request you to accompany me back to the
hall of justice."
"We are prisoners, then?"
"By no means. Only the law requires your presence, and the law, you
know, must be obeyed, monsieur?"
Chivey had not taken part in the conversation, but had been looking
round for a good chance of escaping.
"You, of course, will accompany your friend?" said the detective,
tapping him on the shoulder.
"Must, I suppose," responded Chivey, who noticed several other
policeman were loitering about the station.
So, with a very bad grace, the two intending excursionists walked back
to the hall of justice.
The English prisoners had already been brought into the hall, and the
trial had commenced.
It certainly seemed at first that our young hero had got himself into a
bad fix, for the evidence was much against him.
The police had captured them in Lenoir's workshop.
They had been seen in conversation with him not only there, but at the
café the police had been warned of their nefarious doings and so forth.
"Have you any witnesses to call, prisoner?" ask the judge, addressing
young Jack.
"Yes, Monsieur le Juge; and the first of them is Pierre Lenoir. Let him
be called."
"What folly is this?" demanded the judge, sternly.
"I ask that Pierre Lenoir shall be summoned to give evidence," repeated
young Jack, who had been told by Delamarre what line of defence to
adopt.
"Do you think he will respond if called?"
"If he does not respond, I shall derive no benefit from his evidence."
"Let Pierre Lenoir be called," said the judge, rather angrily.
And Pierre Lenoir was called by an officer of the court.
"Here!"
The answer was clear and distinct.
And the next moment Pierre Lenoir, escorted by two gensdarmes, marched
into the court-room.
Chivey touched Murray on the arm, and both had an idea of sneaking
away.
But the polite and attentive officer who had brought them back from the
railway, stood in the doorway, and was evidently watching them.
In fact, he spoke to them.
"Things are getting interesting, gentlemen," said he; "it was worth
losing a train to see such a dramatic trial as this promises to be."
"Interferes with our business, rather."
"Not so much, monsieur. But hush!"
The evidence of Pierre Lenoir was then taken.
The public prosecutor objected at first to his evidence; but it was
urged by the counsel for the defence that although accused of many
offences, he was at present convicted of none, and therefore was
entitled to full credence.
"Your name is Pierre Lenoir?" asked Jack's counsel.
"It is."
"Do you know the prisoners?"
"But slightly."
"Say when you met them."
"I met them at my own house where they came by invitation to see some
specimens of my skill as a medal engraver."
"Did those Englishmen assist you in any way to pass counterfeit coin?"
"Neither of those Englishmen; but that man did."
And turning half round, he pointed at the wretched Murray, _alias_
Markby.
And at the same time the affable police officer drew nearer, smiling
more blandly than ever.
"'Tis false!" shrieked the wretched Murray.
"The public must maintain silence in the court," said the judge.
"It's a base lie!" exclaimed Murray.
"The officer of the court will arrest the disorderly person."
The smiling gendarme at once swooped down on his prey.
"That man," continued Lenoir, "not only passed bad money for me, but he
persuaded me that the prisoners would do so also. But when I introduced
myself and tried to get them to join me, they absolutely refused."
The public prosecutor tried in vain to shake his story, but he
positively adhered to every word he had spoken.
Then Harkaway senior was called upon, and he in conjunction with the
banker proved that there was no need whatever for the prisoners to
commit such an offence, as by simply signing his name young Jack could
draw far more francs than the judge's yearly salary amounted to.
The counsel for the defence then challenged the prosecution to produce
any evidence that the prisoners had passed bad money, and the public
prosecutor was obliged to confess that he could not do so.
Whereupon the judge remarked that the prosecution had utterly failed,
and directed the prisoners to be discharged.
But Lenoir and Murray were directed to be kept in separate cells till
they could be tried, and Chivey was ordered like accommodation.
And having now plenty of time for reflection, Herbert Murray sat with
irons on his arms and legs, thinking dolefully over the past, and
thinking whether, after all, honesty would not have proved the best
policy.