His countenance was by no means assuring to the "prisoners." He smiled knowingly to Sir Hardinge Giffard, and treated us with an insolent stare.

Watching him closely through my eye-glass, I read my fate so far as he could decide it.

His air was that of a man intent on peremptorily settling a troublesome piece of business; his strongest characteristic seemed infallibility, and his chief expression omniscience.

I saw at once that we should soon fall foul of each other, as in fact we did in less than ten minutes.

My comportment was unusual in the Old Bailey dock; I did not look timid or supplicating or depressed; I simply bore myself as though I were doing my accustomed work.