beneath the lamp was placed another, which served the purposes of the clavier, who acted as a clerk on this occasion.  They who were to fill the offices of judges took their stations near.  A knot of females were clustered within the shadows of one of the side-altars, hovering around each other in the way that their sensitive sex is known to interpose between the exhibition of its peculiar weaknesses and the rude observations of the world.  Stifled sobs and convulsive movements occasionally escaped this little group of acutely feeling and warm-hearted beings, betraying the strength of the emotions they would fain conceal.  The canons and novices were ranged on one side, the guides and muleteers formed a back-ground to the whole, while the fine form of Sigismund stood, stern and motionless as a statue, on the steps of the altar which was opposite to the females.  He watched the minutest proceeding of the investigation with a steadiness that was the result of severe practice in self-command, and a jealous determination to suffer no new wrong to be accumulated on the head of his father.

When the little confusion produced by the entrance of the party from the refectory had subsided, the Prior made a signal to one of the officers of justice.  The man disappeared, and shortly returned with one of the prisoners, the investigation being intended to embrace the cases of all who had been detained by the prudence of the monks.  Balthazar (for it was he) approached the table in his usual meek manner.  His limbs were unbound, and his exterior calm, though the quick unquiet movements of his eye, and the workings of his pale features, whenever a suppressed sob from among the females reached his ear, betrayed the inward struggle he had to maintain, in order to preserve appearances.  When he was confronted with his examiners, Father Michael bowed to the chatelain; for, though the others were admitted by courtesy to participate in the investigations, the right to proceed in an affair of this nature within the limits of the Valais, belonged to this functionary alone.

“Thou art called Balthazar?” abruptly commenced the judge, glancing at his notes.

The answer was a simple inclination of the body.

“And thou art the headsman of the canton of Berne?”

A similar silent reply was given.

“The office is hereditary in thy family; it has been so for ages?”

Balthazar erected his frame, breathing heavily, like one oppressed at the heart, but who would bear down his feelings before he answered.

“Herr Chatelain,” he said with energy, “by the judgment of God it has been so.”

“Honest Balthazar, thou throwest too much emphasis into thy words,” interposed the bailiff.  “All that belongs to authority is honorable, and is not to be treated as an evil.  Hereditary claims, when venerable by time and use, have a double estimation with the world, since it brings the merit of the ancestor to sustain that of the descendant.  We have our rights of the buergerschaft, and thou thy rights of execution.  The time has been when thy fathers were well content with their privilege.”