CHAPTER CIV.
THE ESCORT--THE TRIAL.
"Marseilles at last!" exclaimed Dick Harvey, as the train came to astandstill.
"I thought we were never to end our journey," said little Emily.
However, they quickly got clear of the railway station, engagedapartments at an hotel, and then, without waiting to eat or drink, madetheir way towards the gaol.
"I wonder what house that is with the Union Jack flying over it," saidMrs. Harkaway, as they passed along a street near the harbour.
"The British consulate very likely," said her husband "We had bettercall there."
But the consul was not at home.
"Do you know where he is gone?" asked Harvey of the servant.
"Why, sir, there are some Englishmen to be tried to-day for coining,and he is gone to watch the case."
"To-day?"
"Yes, sir; in fact, the trial will commence in ten minutes," repliedthe man, after consulting his watch.
"Where does the trial take place?"
"The second turning on the left, sir. The hall of justice is a largebuilding just round the corner."
"Come along, then," said Harkaway; "there is no time to lose."
They hurried along the street at a rate that made the French peoplestare.
Paquita was the first of the party to turn the corner, and she had nosooner done so than she exclaimed--
"There they are."
And running between a file of soldiers, threw her arms round HarryGirdwood's neck.
Little Emily would have followed her example, but the officer in chargeof the escort would not permit any such irregular conduct, and Paquitawas compelled to rejoin her friends.
"Hurrah, dad!" exclaimed young Jack; "I knew you would turn up in time.And, mamma, how pale you are looking."
"Can you wonder at it, my boy, considering the anxiety we have allsuffered?"
"Mr. Mole, Mr. Mole," exclaimed Dick Harvey, shaking his head, "I amsurprised indeed to hear that you have taken to counterfeit coining."
"Harvey, this is really no joking matter," replied Mole.
"No, it will be no joke when you are chained to the oar in one of thosegalleys down in the harbour."
"Stand back, ladies and gentlemen, if you please," exclaimed theofficer commanding the escort. "I cannot allow any communication withmy prisoners."
So they were obliged to keep at a distance.
At that moment a portly, elderly gentleman, who had been watching thescene, came up, saying--
"Have I the honour of addressing Mr. Harkaway?"
"That is my name, sir."
"I am the English consul."
Our old hero at once seized him by the hand, saying--
"Sir, words are powerless to express how grateful I am for yourinterference on behalf of my boy."
"Don't mention it, sir, I only did as I am instructed to do in all suchcases."
"But about the trial; what chance does that young scapegrace stand?"
"There is very little doubt that he will be acquitted, as we have thebest of evidence in his favour. But come along, sir, let us get intocourt."
The consul led the way into the hall of justice, and placed theHarkaway party among the audience in such a position that they couldsee all that was going on, without being conspicuous themselves.
Then they waited patiently till the judge arrived.
* * * *
While our young hero's father and friends were thus enteringMarseilles, two people were trying to leave that city.
These were Herbert Murray and his friend Chivey.
"There ain't no use in stoppin' 'ere, guv'nor," the latter had said."We can see by the papers what they gets."
"You are right, Chivey; we will get away for a time."
"We can come back an' see 'em when they are fairly fixed, you know."
"Well, pack up, and we'll just take a trip to Paris for a week."
Their portmanteaus were quickly got ready, and a vehicle was engaged totake them to the railway station.
But when they alighted, and were about to take their tickets, a verypolite police officer tapped Murray on the shoulder, and said--
"I much regret to have to ask monsieur to postpone his journey."
"What?"
"I must request Monsieur to defer his visit to Paris till after thetrial of the English coiners."
"What has that to do with me?"
"The judge may desire your presence, monsieur; he may wish to hear yourevidence."
"Nonsense!"
"It may be; but I am compelled to say that I cannot permit you to leaveMarseilles to-day, and I must request you to accompany me back to thehall of justice."
"We are prisoners, then?"
"By no means. Only the law requires your presence, and the law, youknow, must be obeyed, monsieur?"
Chivey had not taken part in the conversation, but had been lookinground for a good chance of escaping.
"You, of course, will accompany your friend?" said the detective,tapping him on the shoulder.
"Must, I suppose," responded Chivey, who noticed several otherpoliceman were loitering about the station.
So, with a very bad grace, the two intending excursionists walked backto the hall of justice.
The English prisoners had already been brought into the hall, and thetrial had commenced.
It certainly seemed at first that our young hero had got himself into abad fix, for the evidence was much against him.
The police had captured them in Lenoir's workshop.
They had been seen in conversation with him not only there, but at thecafe the police had been warned of their nefarious doings and so forth.
"Have you any witnesses to call, prisoner?" ask the judge, addressingyoung Jack.
"Yes, Monsieur le Juge; and the first of them is Pierre Lenoir. Let himbe called."
"What folly is this?" demanded the judge, sternly.
"I ask that Pierre Lenoir shall be summoned to give evidence," repeatedyoung Jack, who had been told by Delamarre what line of defence toadopt.
"Do you think he will respond if called?"
"If he does not respond, I shall derive no benefit from his evidence."
"Let Pierre Lenoir be called," said the judge, rather angrily.
And Pierre Lenoir was called by an officer of the court.
"Here!"
The answer was clear and distinct.
And the next moment Pierre Lenoir, escorted by two gensdarmes, marchedinto the court-room.
Chivey touched Murray on the arm, and both had an idea of sneakingaway.
But the polite and attentive officer who had brought them back from therailway, stood in the doorway, and was evidently watching them.
In fact, he spoke to them.
"Things are getting interesting, gentlemen," said he; "it was worthlosing a train to see such a dramatic trial as this promises to be."
"Interferes with our business, rather."
"Not so much, monsieur. But hush!"
The evidence of Pierre Lenoir was then taken.
The public prosecutor objected at first to his evidence; but it wasurged by the counsel for the defence that although accused of manyoffences, he was at present convicted of none, and therefore wasentitled to full credence.
"Your name is Pierre Lenoir?" asked Jack's counsel.
"It is."
"Do you know the prisoners?"
"But slightly."
"Say when you met them."
"I met them at my own house where they came by invitation to see somespecimens of my skill as a medal engraver."
"Did those Englishmen assist you in any way to pass counterfeit coin?"
"Neither of those Englishmen; but that man did."
And turning half round, he pointed at the wretched Murray, _alias_Markby.
And at the same time the affable police officer drew nearer, smilingmore blandly than ever.
"'Tis false!" shrieked th
e wretched Murray.
"The public must maintain silence in the court," said the judge.
"It's a base lie!" exclaimed Murray.
"The officer of the court will arrest the disorderly person."
The smiling gendarme at once swooped down on his prey.
"That man," continued Lenoir, "not only passed bad money for me, but hepersuaded me that the prisoners would do so also. But when I introducedmyself and tried to get them to join me, they absolutely refused."
The public prosecutor tried in vain to shake his story, but hepositively adhered to every word he had spoken.
Then Harkaway senior was called upon, and he in conjunction with thebanker proved that there was no need whatever for the prisoners tocommit such an offence, as by simply signing his name young Jack coulddraw far more francs than the judge's yearly salary amounted to.
The counsel for the defence then challenged the prosecution to produceany evidence that the prisoners had passed bad money, and the publicprosecutor was obliged to confess that he could not do so.
Whereupon the judge remarked that the prosecution had utterly failed,and directed the prisoners to be discharged.
But Lenoir and Murray were directed to be kept in separate cells tillthey could be tried, and Chivey was ordered like accommodation.
And having now plenty of time for reflection, Herbert Murray sat withirons on his arms and legs, thinking dolefully over the past, andthinking whether, after all, honesty would not have proved the bestpolicy.