He now spoke in low tones, turning his back on the spectators, and fixing his eyes again on the green baize of the table at which he stood.
"Prisoners, have you any objection to make, any evidence to call, invalidating the statement by which Citizen Danville has cleared himself of suspicion ?" inquired the president.
"He has cleared himself by the most execrable of all falsehoods," answered Trudaine.

"If his mother could be traced and brought here, her testimony would prove it." "Can you produce any other evidence in support of your allegation ?" asked the president.
"I cannot." "Citizen Superintendent Danville, you are at liberty to retire.

Your statement will be laid before the authority to whom you are officially responsible.

Either you merit a civic crown for more than Roman virtue, or--" Having got thus far, the president stopped abruptly, as if unwilling to commit himself too soon to an opinion, and merely repeated, "You may retire." Danville left the court immediately, going out again by the public door.
He was followed by murmurs from the women's benches, which soon ceased, however, when the president was observed to close his note-book, and turn round toward his colleagues.

"The sentence!" was the general whisper now.