His able defender seized that moment of strong interest to enter upon a discussion of the charges:-- "Where is the body of the person abducted?
Where is the senator ?" he asked.

"You accuse us of walling him up with stones and plaster.

If so, we alone know where he is; you have kept us twenty-three days in prison, and the senator must be dead by this time for want of food.

We are therefore murderers, but you have not accused us of murder.

On the other hand, if he still lives, we must have accomplices.