The superintendent of police, who, I imagine, had his own opinion of Sir John Bell and of the value of his evidence, very kindly placed a chair for me in the dock, and there on that bad eminence I sat to be studied by a thousand curious and for the most part unsympathetic eyes.

Lady Colford had been very popular.

Her husband and relations, who were convinced of my guilt and sought to be avenged upon me, were very powerful, therefore the fashionable world of Dunchester, which was doctored by Sir John Bell, was against me almost to a woman.
The jury were long in coming back, and in time I accustomed myself to the staring and comments, and began to think out the problem of my position.

It was clear to me that, so far as my future was concerned, it did not matter what verdict the jury gave.

In any case I was a ruined man in this and probably in every other country.