Chapter 8
We passed a few sad hours until eleven o'clock, when the trial
was to commence. My father and the rest of the family being obliged
to attend as witnesses, I accompanied them to the court. During the
whole of this wretched mockery of justice I suffered living
torture. It was to be decided whether the result of my curiosity
and lawless devices would cause the death of two of my fellow
beings: one a smiling babe full of innocence and joy, the other far
more dreadfully murdered, with every aggravation of infamy that
could make the murder memorable in horror. Justine also was a girl
of merit and possessed qualities which promised to render her life
happy; now all was to be obliterated in an ignominious grave, and I
the cause! A thousand times rather would I have confessed
