Cases of Circumstantial Evidence

Fourteen

261 Fourteen Late in the afternoon of that same day when the first hearing of the parson’s case was held, the body disinterred in his garden was committed to holy ground in Vejlby churchyard, under the ministration of Peder Korf of Aalsö. Morten Bruus was there as witness and mourner, and Judge Thorwaldsen as the King’s representative. In order to avoid the pile of unheaved earth, these two stood unwillingly side by side. Peder Korf took his position at the head of the grave, the sexton stood at the foot. Under the clouded sky the freshly turned earth, glazed where the spade had cut it, shone with a wan reflection , and the thick grass where the dew had gathered early gave off a like pale sheen. This twilight silveriness did not reach down into the deep rectangular hole. Morten appeared to be very sad, for once with neither malice nor mockery in his foxlike face. The judge, observing him, tried to grant him the honest right to mourn, but the recollection of his apparent lack of affection for his brother, and the sharp gleam of triumph which had kindled in his pale eyes when he had laid the outstretched corpse before the feet of Parson Sören Qvist, intruded on the moment and nullified the good impulse. In spite of himself his personal hatred of the man beside him filled his mouth with the bitter taste of gall. 262 Janet Lewis Peder Korf read the words that blessed the dead, the sexton stood with his head bowed, his hands folded reverently upon the handle of his spade, and Morten Bruus covered his eyes with his hand. Tryg Thorwaldsen said within himself, “God forgive me.” Behind them the church cast a great cold shadow; already old and destined to become much older, it held a tremendous stability. The words the parson was reading held the same stability. For Tryg Thorwaldsen they sealed the rotting flesh within the wooden coffin unto the great judgment . Whatever poor Niels had contributed to the situation in which his master was now placed, he was now beyond the judgment or blame of any human court. Whether absolved or pardoned, he was at least removed. The story of Niels was over, thought Tryg as the parson closed the book and the sexton lifted his spade. Morten Bruus thanked the parson and bowed soberly to Tryg. He seemed disposed to linger at the graveside until the sexton should have completed his task, but Parson Korf and Judge Thorwaldsen turned aside and made their way through the narrow paths, between the resting places of earlier comers to this community, to the gate. As they quitted the churchyard , Tryg, looking back, saw Morten still standing with bent head beside the grave. “Poor fellow,” said Parson Korf. “It is hard to leave one’s last living kin. Although there seems to have been but little graciousness between those brothers, yet the ties of blood are strong.” “It is the fate of the living that concerns us now,” said Tryg. “Even so,” said the parson. “I am very sorry for you,” he added quite simply. “I should like to ask your advice,” said Tryg. “Before Morten Bruus made his accusation, Parson Sören came to me, bringing 263 t h e t r i a l o f S ö r e n Q v i s t a certain sum of money with which he thought I might conduct a search for Niels. What can I best do with that sum to help him now?” Peder Korf tugged at his beard. His face was very brown and sunburned, his eyes blue, and from his sun-darkened face his eyes looked at Tryg, seeming the more discerning for their intense blueness. “You do not believe him guilty, then, Sir Judge?” he said. “I cannot believe,” said Tryg, “that he would stand before me and enact so monstrous a lie as to bid me search for Niels if he knew all the while where Niels lay. He is an honorable man, and a man of God.” “He is my friend,” said Peder Korf. “Still, he is human, and all men are corruptible. He has always had the kindest of hearts. But anger riseth like a fire. It is quick and deadens the brain.” “Had I been convinced of his guilt, I should have passed sentence upon him this morning,” said...