224 BIRDS' NESTS. 



from his pocket the piece of paper which he 

 had found sticking to the bramble, and hand- 

 ing it across the table, begged the magistrate 

 to see whether it corresponded with the paper 

 in which the pheasant had been wrapped. 

 Both pieces were now handed up to the bench, 

 and so intense was the excitement, that no 

 sound was heard except the rustling of the 

 paper, as the magistrate unfolded it, and 

 searched for a place from which a piece had 

 been torn. The paper was very much rumpled 

 and uneven, so that it took some time to flat- 

 ten it. Meanwhile, Mr. Miller glanced at the 

 miserable prisoner, and if ever convicted guilt 

 \vas visible in a culprit's face, it was clearly 

 written in Johnson's. 



The rustling ended ; all three magistrates 

 bent their heads over the desk, on which the 

 paper was spread ; the silence became if pos- 

 sible yet more intense, but at last was broken 

 by the chairman's rising, and holding up the 

 paper with the little piece so accurately fitted 



