"Then send the case to the jury," said Mr. Chaffanbrass. It seemed
that everybody was talking, and Mr. Wickerby, the attorney, tried
to explain it all to the prisoner over the bar of the dock, not in
the lowest possible voice. The Chief Justice became angry, and the
guardian of the silence of the Court bestirred himself energetically.
"My lud," said Mr. Chaffanbrass, "I maintain that it is proper that
the prisoner should be informed of the purport of these telegrams.
Mercy demands it, and justice as well." Phineas Finn, however, did
not understand, as he had known nothing about the latch-key of the
house in Northumberland Street.
Something, however, must be done. The Chief Justice was of opinion
that, although the preparation of a latch-key in Prague could not
really affect the evidence against the prisoner,--although the facts
against the prisoner would not be altered, let the manufacture of
that special key be ever so clearly proved,--nevertheless the jury
were entitled to have before them the facts now tendered in evidence
before they could be called upon to give a verdict, and that
therefore they should submit themselves, in the service of their
country, to the very serious additional inconvenience which they
would be called upon to endure.
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