Page 119 of 483

"The murderer discovered! Good God! how can that be? who could

attempt to pursue him? It is impossible; one might as well try to

overtake the winds, or confine a mountain-stream with a straw. I

saw him too; he was free last night!"

"I do not know what you mean," replied my brother, in accents of

wonder, "but to us the discovery we have made completes our

misery. No one would believe it at first; and even now Elizabeth

will not be convinced, notwithstanding all the evidence. Indeed,

who would credit that Justine Moritz, who was so amiable, and

fond of all the family, could suddenly become so capable of so

frightful, so appalling a crime?"

"Justine Moritz! Poor, poor girl, is she the accused? But it is

wrongfully; every one knows that; no one believes it, surely,

Ernest?"