Франкенштейн

           "Thatevidence,"heobserved,"washardlyrequiredinsoglaringacase,butIamgladofit,and,indeed,noneofourjudgesliketocondemnacriminaluponcircumstantialevidence,beiteversodecisive."

           Thiswasstrangeandunexpectedintelligence;whatcoulditmean?Hadmyeyesdeceivedme?AndwasIreallyasmadasthewholeworldwouldbelievemetobeifIdisclosedtheobjectofmysuspicions?Ihastenedtoreturnhome,andElizabetheagerlydemandedtheresult.

           "Mycousin,"repliedI,"itisdecidedasyoumayhaveexpected;alljudgeshadratherthatteninnocentshouldsufferthanthatoneguiltyshouldescape.Butshehasconfessed."

           ThiswasadireblowtopoorElizabeth,whohadreliedwithfirmnessuponJustine’sinnocence."Alas!"saidshe."HowshallIeveragainbelieveinhumangoodness?Justine,whomIlovedandesteemedasmysister,howcouldsheputonthosesmilesofinnocenceonlytobetray?Hermildeyesseemedincapableofanyseverityorguile,andyetshehascommittedamurder."

           Soonafterweheardthatthepoorvictimhadexpressedadesiretoseemycousin.Myfatherwishedhernottogobutsaidthatheleftittoherownjudgmentandfeelingstodecide."Yes,"saidElizabeth,"Iwillgo,althoughsheisguilty;andyou,Victor,shallaccompanyme;Icannotgoalone."Theideaofthisvisitwastorturetome,yetIcouldnotrefuse.WeenteredthegloomyprisonchamberandbeheldJustinesittingonsomestrawatthefartherend;herhandsweremanacled,andherheadrestedonherknees.Sheroseonseeingusenter,andwhenwewereleftalonewithher,shethrewherselfatthefeetofElizabeth,weepingbitterly.Mycousinweptalso.