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THE KNIFE.
129

which spoke both intellect and courage, though still more ferocity: he seemed to belong to some other time than the present, when human life was held but lightly, and when a shrewder wit or a stronger arm made man a chief among his fellow-savages.

We have seen that nothing was elicited on their examination. Still, taking all that could be discovered into consideration—first, that they had been observed speaking to the old woman the day before; secondly, the approximation of their encampment to the shop—for their tent was pitched in a small hazel-wood copse not a quarter of a mile distant from the place; thirdly, their abrupt departure; and, fourthly, that not a shadow of suspicion could attach to any but themselves:—on these grounds, as already mentioned, they had been ordered to be committed for trial to the county gaol. It was not till the female found she was to be parted from her husband (for each was, of course, to be confined in a separate cell) that she uttered a cry, or made a gesture of resistance: then, even the gaolers were touched by the passionate despair with which she clung to his knees, and implored him to let her remain, as if it depended solely on his will. His only answer consisted in holding out to her his manacled hands. It became necessary to separate them by force. Just as they bore her to the threshold, the gipsy suddenly asked permission to bid her farewell: he advanced towards her, and said something in a low voice and in a foreign