Explore "The Fever of Life" by Fergus Hume on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"De Mortuis" -- you know the phrase, I think; A kindly saying, such as poor humanity Mutters at times when talking of the dead; Therefore, I pray you, speak not any ill Of this poor soul who suffered, sinned, and died, Seeing her sinning brought her but to this; Yourself when gone may need a pitying word, When all your virtues with you are entombed, And naught remains but sins to curse your name.
So it was Dombrain, after all, who had committed this crime, and, by accusing Mrs. Belswin of the murder, placed her life in jeopardy, in order both to revenge and save himself. Had it not been for the unexpected evidence of Samson Belk, without doubt the unhappy woman would have been found guilty, and suffered in the place of the astute Mr. Dombrain. When this ex-lawyer, ex-convict, and constant blackguard heard himself accused of the crime, he slipped out of the court and vanished before he could be arrested, knowing that he could make no defence.