But the renewal of the trial was again postponed till the Wednesday,
as it was necessary that an entire day should be devoted to the
bludgeon. The instrument was submitted to the eyes and hands of
persons experienced in such matters, and it was declared on all sides
that the thing was not of English manufacture. It was about a foot
long, with a leathern thong to the handle, with something of a spring
in the shaft, and with the oval loaded knot at the end cased with
leathern thongs very minutely and skilfully cut. They who understood
modern work in leather gave it as their opinion that the weapon had
been made in Paris. It was considered that Mealyus had brought it
with him, and concealed it in preparation for this occasion. If the
police could succeed in tracing the bludgeon into his hands, or in
proving that he had purchased any such instrument, then,--so it was
thought,--there would be evidence to justify a police magistrate in
sending Mr. Emilius to occupy the place so lately and so long held
by poor Phineas Finn.
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