THE TRIAL. 227 



CHAPTER XXV. 



On the morning of the trial, the court was crowded to excess by 

 well-dressed persons of both sexes, attracted by the novelty of 

 the case and the strong feeling excited in the neighbourhood 

 against the perpetrators of this daring outrage. Lord Vancourt 

 did not, of course, appear, being still on his travels, nobody 

 knew where, not even Lord Mervyn ; but one of the leading 

 counsel was employed (everybody said by his lordship, sub rosa) 

 to defend his two underkeepers or night watchers, who had 

 remained prisoners ever since the commission of the offence ; 

 the wounded man, now in a fair way of recovery, having turned 

 king's evidence. One of the most talented as well as gentle- 

 manly men at the bar, named Whalley, had been retained by 

 Malcolm to conduct the prosecution ; the sharp-witted, brow- 

 beating Serjeant Wrangler appeared for the defence. 



Mr. Whalley, in his opening address to the jury, commented 

 in severe terms upon the monstrous nature of the offence, by 

 which the lives of two persons had been nearly sacrificed, 

 characterising it also as one of the most violent, wanton, and 

 disgraceful outrages attempted by any man professing to be a 

 gentleman. 



The first person called to prove the assault and attempted 

 abduction was Blanche Douglas, who entered the court attended 

 by her aunt Gordon and Lord Malcolm ; and her counsel, pity- 

 ing her extreme agitation on entering the witness-box, merely 

 asked a few questions as to Lord Vancourt' s attempts to drag 

 her from the carriage, and her previous rejection of his 

 addresses. Having thanked her for her replies, Mr. Whalley 

 said it was unnecessary for him to trouble her further, and was 

 resuming his seat, when Serjeant Wrangler immediately rose, and 

 addressing poor Blanche, who was turning to leave her unplea- 

 sant position, apologised in the blandest manner, and in the 

 softest tones he could assume, for detaining her from her friends 

 a few minutes longer. 



-ITT 



" You were acquainted, I believe, Miss Douglas, with Lord 

 Vancourt some time previously to this unfortunate affair on 

 Marston Common 1 " 



" A very short time only, sir," was the reply. 



" You met his lordship, I think, first at Marston Castle, 

 where you were staying on a visit to Lord and Lady Mervyn? 



"Yes," was the faint response. 



o 2 



