The Law and the Lady

Not Proven. Not Proven won’t do for us. If the jury have done him an injustice--if he _is_ innocent--let him prove it.’ That is what the world thinks and says of me.

Scotch third verdict becomes the plot's engine and social stigma — Valeria must clear what the jury suspended — so plot scores 89.

Mr. Dexter was sitting at the window of his room upstairs (he was a cripple, and could only move himself about in a chair on wheels), and Mr. Macallan was speaking to him from the terrace below.

Dexter wheeled at the window — eccentric witness-villain cast that individuates the investigation — so cast scores 87.

IF I had been traveling homeward in my own carriage, the remaining chapters of this narrative would never have been written. Before we had been an hour on the road I should have called to the driver, and should have told him to turn back.

Journey as pace hinge — almost aborting the remaining chapters — serial self-consciousness of forward motion — so pace scores 85.

“FOR after this manner in the old time the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands; even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord”

Liturgical obedience prose irony before Valeria's disobedience plot — so prose scores 87.

ARIEL was downstairs in the shadowy hall, half asleep, half awake, waiting to see the visitors clear of the house. Without speaking to us, without looking at us, she led the way down the dark garden walk, and locked the gate behind us.

Shadowy hall, dark garden, locked gate — Dexter house as gothic investigation space — so world scores 84.

“A bad beginning!” she said, pointing to my first unfortunate signature with the feather end of her pen. “I hope, my dear, you may not live to regret it.”

Wrong signature at the wedding as superstition-hook and plot seed — so hook scores 90.

I love my husband with all my heart; but I cannot live with him on these terms: the misery of it would drive me mad. I am only a woman, Major. I can only throw myself on your kindness. Don’t--pray, pray don’t keep me in the dark!

Bride as detective who rejects suspended judgment — woman-led inquiry novel before Doyle's detectives — so innov scores 91.

With a heavy sigh, he lays the child’s hand back again on the sealed letter; and by that one little action says (as if in words) to his son--“I leave it to You!” And so it ended!

Ending transfers judgment to the next generation's hand — open postscript rather than full courtroom rewrite — so ending scores 86.