The compressed lip, the bent brow, the stern and flashing eye of almost everyone on whom he looked, conveyed the expression of men come to glut their sight with triumphant revenge.

It is probable that the appearance of the criminal might have somewhat changed the temper of the populace in his favour, and that they might in the moment of death have forgiven the man against whom their resentment had been so fiercely heated.

It had, however, been destined, that the mutability of their sentiments was not to be exposed to this trial.
The usual hour for producing the criminal had been past for many minutes, yet the spectators observed no symptom of his appearance.

"Would they venture to defraud public justice ?" was the question which men began anxiously to ask at each other.

The first answer in every case was bold and positive,--"They dare not." But when the point was further canvassed, other opinions were entertained, and various causes of doubt were suggested.