In due course Debendra Babu, with Abdullah, was brought before the Deputy Magistrate of Ghoria on various grave charges.  The evidence established a strong prima facie case against both, and Nalini Babu reserved his defence.  They were committed for trial.  When the case came before the Sessions Judge the Government Pleader (public prosecutor) adduced many witnesses proving the prisoner’s guilt, the last of whom was Hiramani, who admitted on cross-examination that she had caused the anonymous letter to be sent to headquarters, which led to the charge being reopened.  She protested that she had done so from a feeling that so great a crime should not be hushed up.  Nalini Babu, in his turn, put forward some witnesses for the defence; but their statements were not of material advantage to the prisoner.  It was, in fact, a losing game, but he played it manfully.  After all evidence had been recorded, the Government Pleader was about to sum up for the prosecution, when the Court rose suddenly, as it was past five o’clock.

Nalini was going homewards in the dusk, when he felt a hand laid timidly on his shoulder.  Turning sharply round, he saw an old man standing by his side.  On being asked his name and business, the newcomer whispered some information which must have interested Nalini greatly for he rubbed his hands, smiled, and nodded several times.  After a few minutes’ talk the pair went together to a spot where a palanquin with bearers was waiting.  Into it got Nalini and was carried off at a smart trot, while his companion hobbled behind.

When the Court assembled next day Nalini thus addressed the judge:  “May it please your honour, I have, by the greatest good luck, obtained certain evidence which will, I think, place this case in a new light”.  On getting leave to adduce an additional witness, he beckoned to an old man, standing at the back of the Court, who entered the witness-box and declared that his name was Ram Harak and that he was a dismissed servant of the prisoner.  This was a curious opening for a witness for the defence, and dead silence fell on the Court while Ram Harak proceeded to swear that it was he, and not Debendra Babu, who had been intimate with the deceased, and that she had poisoned herself to avoid excommunication.

“Did she tell you so herself?” asked the judge sharply.

“No, your highness; I learnt this only yesterday from Maina Bibi, Karim’s own sister; Piyari Bibi, Sadhu’s daughter; and Nasiban Bibi, his sister-in-law, who all lived with the deceased.”

The Government Pleader at once objected to this statement being recorded, as it was hearsay.  Nalini, however, assured the judge that the eye-witnesses were in attendance, and called them, one by one, to give evidence.  Passing strange was their story.  On the evening of Siraji’s death they found her writhing in agony on the floor and, on being questioned, she gasped out that she could bear her kinsfolks’ tyranny