Springing from the body, he gave a second
glance up and down the walk, which was totally lonesome and deserted;
then crossing into Reade street, he made his fearful way in a half
state of stupor, half-bewilderment, by the nearest avenues to his
home.
When the corpse of the murder'd lawyer was found in the morning, and
the officers of justice commenced their inquiry, suspicion immediately
fell upon Philip, and he was arrested. The most rigorous search,
however, brought to light nothing at all implicating the young man,
except his visit to Covert's office the evening before, and his angry
language there. That was by no means enough to fix so heavy a charge
upon him.
The second day afterward, the whole business came before the ordinary
judicial tribunal, in order that Philip might be either committed for
the crime, or discharged. The testimony of Mr. Covert's clerk stood
alone. One of his employers, who, believing in his innocence, had
deserted him not in this crisis, had provided him with the ablest
criminal counsel in New York. The proof was declared entirely
insufficient, and Philip was discharged.
The crowded court-room made way for him as he came out; hundreds of
curious looks fixed upon his features, and many a jibe pass'd upon
him. But of all that arena of human faces, he saw only _one_--a sad,
pale, black-eyed one, cowering in the centre of the rest. He had seen
that face twice before--the first time as a warning spectre--the
second time in prison, immediately after his arrest--now for the
_last_ time.
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