Всадник без головы

Chapter 99

           Despitehissocialstanding—andthewealthtosustainit—heseeshimselfalone;withoutfriendorsympathiser:forsostandstheassassininTexas!

           Hisdemeanouriscompletelychanged.Inplaceofthathighhaughtyair—oftexhibitedinboldbrutalbullyism—helookscowedandcraven.

           Andnotstrangethatheshould.

           Hefeelsthatthereisnochanceofescape;thatheisstandingbythesideofhiscoffin—ontheedgeofanEternitytooterribletocontemplate.

           Toaconsciencelikehis,itcannotbeotherwisethanappalling.

           Allatoncealightisseentoflaskintohiseyes—sunkenastheyareinthemidstoftwolividcircles.Hehastheairofoneontheeveofmakingconfession.

           Isittobeanacknowledgmentofguilt?Isheabouttounburdenhisconscienceoftheweightthatmustbeonit?

           Thespectators,guessinghisintention,standbreathlesslyobservinghim.

           Thereissilenceevenamongthecicadas.

           Itisbrokenbytheformalisedinterrogatoryofthejudge?

           "Haveyouanythingtosaywhysentenceofdeathshouldnotbepronounceduponyou?"

           "No!"hereplies,"Ihavenot.Thejuryhasgivenajustverdict.IacknowledgethatIhaveforfeitedmylife,anddeservetoloseit."

           Notduringalltheday—despiteitsmanystrangeincidentsandstartlingsurprises—havethespectatorsbeensoastonished.Theyareconfoundedbeyondthepowerofspeech;andinsilencepermitthecondemnedmantoproceed,withwhattheynowperceivetobehisconfession.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 847 из 857