The three letters, of course, formed the pivot of the case. Were they genuine? The State Karbhari asserted that they were not; Nana Bhide till the last persisted in holding that they were. Who could throw light on the question? Some witnesses from Kolhapur were expected to solve the riddle. But, though summoned they did no elect to appear. The High Court could not compel attendance; for the witnesses were beyond its jurisdiction. Neither the Political Agent nor the Government of Bombay were willing to interfere as the case was a private one. The decision of the High Court went against Nana Bhide. The letters were pronounced to be unreliable. Tilak and Agarkar tendered a graceful apology. But the wrath of Barve was not to be so appeased. He pressed for conviction; and Tilak and Agarkar, though declared "free from any suspicion of malvolence" were found guilty of having "thoughtlessly published defamatory " articles and were sentenced (i6th July 1882) each to four months* simple imprisonment.
The decision of the High Court caused no surprise, for it was fully anticipated; and so when Tilak and Agarkar were seated in a closed carriage and taken to the Dongri jail, they were rather proud of having been thus able to show their devotion to their country. Being inmates of the same cell, they could compare notes, review their conduct, weigh men and things, discuss future schemes and past mistakes. Such discussions were often carried far into the night and then the bugs and fleas of the dungeon were forgotten; not so the warders' reprimands for having broken the stillness of the night by their loud and at
