"Speak to the business, Master Secretary:
Why are we met in council?"
_King Henry VIII._
When the idlers of the Proserpine appeared on deck the following
morning, the ship was about a league to windward of Capri, having forged
well over toward the north side of the bay during the night, wore round
and got thus far back on the other tack. From the moment light returned
lookouts had been aloft with glasses, examining every nook and corner of
the bay, in order to ascertain whether any signs of the lugger were to
be seen under its bold and picturesque shore. So great is the extent of
this beautiful basin, so grand the natural objects which surround it,
and so clear the atmosphere, that even the largest ships loom less than
usual on its waters; and it would have been a very possible thing for le
Feu-Follet to anchor near some of the landings, and lie there unnoticed
for a week by the fleet above, unless tidings were carried to the latter
by observers on the shore.
Cuffe was the last to come on deck, six bells, or seven o'clock,
striking as the group on the quarter-deck first lifted their hats to
him. He glanced around him, and then turned toward Griffin, who was now
officer of the watch.
"I see two ships coming down the bay, Mr. Griffin," he said--"no signals
yet, I suppose, sir?"
"Certainly not, sir, or they would have been reported. We make out the
frigate to be the Terpsichore, and the sloop, I know by her new royals,
is the Ringdove. The first ship, Captain Cuffe, brags of being able to
travel faster than anything within the Straits!"
"I'll bet a month's pay the Few-Folly walks away from her on a bowline,
ten knots to her nine. If she can do that with the Proserpine, she'll at
least do that with Mistress Terpsichore. There goes a signal from the
frigate now, Mr. Griffin, though a conjuror could hardly read it,
tailing directly on as it does. Well, quartermaster, what do you make it
out to be?"
"It's the Terpsichore's number, sir; and the other ship has just made
the Ringdove's."
"Show ours, and keep a sharp lookout; there'll be something else to tell
us presently."
In a few minutes the Terpsichore expressed a wish to speak the
Proserpine, when Cuffe filled his main-topsail and hauled close upon a
wind. An hour later the three ships passed within hail of each other,
when both the junior commanders lowered their gigs and came on board the
Proserpine to report.
Roller followed in the first cutter, which had been towed down by the
Terpsichore.
The Terpsichore was commanded by Captain Sir Frederick Dashwood, a
lively young baronet, who preferred the active life of a sailor to
indolence and six thousand a year on shore; and who had been rewarded
for his enterprise by promotion and a fast frigate at the early age of
two and twenty. The Ringdove was under a master-commandant of the name
of Lyon, who was just sixty years old, having worked his way up to his
present rank by dint of long and arduous services, owing his last
commission and his command to the accident of having been a first
lieutenant at the battle of Cape St. Vincent. Both these gentlemen
appeared simultaneously on the quarter-deck of the Proserpine, where
they were duly received by the captain and all the assembled officers.
"Good morrow to you, Cuffe," said Dashwood, giving the other the tip of
his fingers, as soon as the ceremonious part of the reception was over;
and casting a glance, half admiring, half critical, at the appearance of
things on deck--"What has Nelson sent us down here about this fine
morning, and--ha!--how long have you had those brass ornaments on
your capstan?"
"They were only put there yesterday, Sir Frederick; a little slush
money did it all."
"Has Nelson seen them? I rather fancy not--they tell me he's as savage
as an Arab about knick-knackery nowadays. What an awkward job that was
yesterday afternoon, by the way, Cuffe!"
"It has been a bad business, and, as an old Agamemnon, I would give a
year's rank that it never had taken place."
"A year's rank!--that's a great deal; a year would set me back, hard
aground alongside of old Lyon, here. I was a lieutenant less than three
years since and couldn't afford half a year. But all you old Agamemnons
think as much of your little Nel. as if he were a pretty girl; isn't it
true, Lyon?"
"I dare say it may be, Sir Frederick," answered Lyon; "and if you had
been the first lieutenant of a two-decker, off Cape St. Vincent, on the
14th February, 1797, you would have thought as much of him too. Here we
were, only fifteen sail in all--that is, of vessels of the line--with
the wind at--"
"Oh, hang your battle, Lyon, I've heard all that at least seventeen
times!"
"Well, if ye haave, Sir Frederick," returned Lyon, who was a Scotchman,
"it'll be just once a year since ye war' born, leaving out the time ye
war' in the nursery. But we've not come here to enlighten Captain Cuffe
in these particulars, so much as in obedience to an order of the
rear-admiral's--little Nel., as ye'll be calling him, I suppose, Sir
Frederick Dashwood?"
"Nay, it's you old Agamemnons, or old fellows, who gave him that name--"
"Ye'll please to excuse me, sir," interrupted Lyon, a little
dogmatically--"ye've never heard me call him anything but my lord, since
His Majesty, God bless him! was graciously pleased to elevate him to the
peerage--nothing but 'my lord,' and the 'rear-admiral'; naval rank being
entitled to its privileges even on the throne. Many a king has been a
colonel, and I see no disparagement in one's being an admiral. Won't ye
be thinking, Captain Cuffe, that since my lord is made Duke of Bronté,
he is entitled to be called 'Your Grace'--all the Scottish dukes are so
designated, and I see no reason why the rear-admiral should not have his
just dues as well as the best of them."
"Let him alone for that," said Cuffe, laughing; "Nel. will look out for
himself, as well as for the king. But, gentlemen, I suppose you have not
come down here merely for a morning walk--have I any reports to hear?"
"I beg your pardon, Captain Cuffe, but I was really forgetting my
errand," answered Dashwood. "Here are your orders, and we are both
directed to report to you. The lieutenant who brought the package aboard
_me_ said there would be a spy to try, and a lugger to catch. Did they
tell you anything of this matter, Lyon?"
"No, Sir Frederick; not being inquisitive, I hear but little of what is
going on in the fleet. My orders are to report myself and ship to
Captain Cuffe, for service, which I have the honor now to do."
"Well, gentlemen, here are further instructions for you. This is an
order to hold a court, composed of Captain Richard Cuffe, of the
Proserpine, president; Captain Sir Frederick Dashwood, Bart., of the
Terpsichore, etc., etc.; and Lyon, Winchester, and Spriggs, your
first-lieutenant, Sir Frederick, for the trials of Raoul Yvard, a French
citizen, on the charge of being a spy, and Ithuel Bolt, seaman, etc., on
the charge of being a deserter. Here is everything in rule, and there
are your respective orders, gentlemen."
"Bless me, I'd no notion of this!" exclaimed Lyon, who was greatly
averse to this part of an officer's duty. "I'd thought it altogether a
trial of speed after a Frenchman, for which purpose the rear-admiral, or
my lord, or his grace, whichever it may be right to call him, had seen
fit to bring three of his fastest ships together."
"I wish it was nothing but the last, Captain Lyon; but we have the
disagreeable duty of trying a spy and a deserter before us. You will
return to your ships, gentlemen, and follow us in to an anchorage. I
intend to bring up at a single anchor under the shore at Capri, where we
can lie during the calm and get through with our courts. The cases will
be clear and not detain us long, and we can send lookouts up on the
heights to examine the sea and the coast outside. In the mean time, we
must be busy lest we lose the breeze. You will attend to the signal for
the court."
At this order the two visitors got into their boats, and the Proserpine
again filled. The three vessels now made the best of their way toward
the point of destination, anchoring off the town or village in the
island of Capri, just as two bells struck. Ten minutes later, the
Proserpine fired a gun, and ran up the flag which denotes the sitting of
a court-martial.
Although it has not been deemed necessary to relate them, the reader
will understand that all the details required by the law had been
observed as regards these trials; the promptitude of the proceedings
being partly characteristic of the decision of the admiral, but more in
consequence of a wish to use the charges against the delinquents as a
means of seizing the true hero of our tale, the little Feu-Follet. While
a mistaken, not to say a mawkish, philanthropy is unsettling so many of
the ancient land-marks of society, and, among other heresies, is
preaching the doctrine that "the object of punishment is the reformation
of the criminal," it is a truth which all experience confirms that
nothing renders justice so terrible, and consequently so efficient, as
its promptitude and certainty. When all its requirements are observed,
the speediest exercise of its functions is the most conducive to the
protection of society, the real motive for the existence of all human
regulations of this nature; and it is a great merit of the much-abused
English ordinances, that the laws are rarely made stalking-horses for
the benefit of the murderer or the forger; but that once fairly tried
and convicted, the expiation of their crimes awaits the offenders with a
certainty and energy that leave the impression on the community that
punishments were intended to produce. That this people has done well in
liberating itself from many of their inherited usages and laws, is as
certain as that one age has interests different from another; one set of
circumstances governing principles at variance with those which preceded
them; but it would be well also to remember that, while moral changes
are as necessary as physical exercise, there are truths that are
eternal, and rules of right and prudence which can never be departed
from with impunity.
When the members of the court mentioned assembled in the cabin of the
Proserpine, it was with all the forms and exterior observances that were
necessary to command respect. The officers were in full dress, the oaths
were administered with solemnity, the table was arranged with taste, and
an air of decent gravity reigned over all. Little time, however, was
lost unnecessarily, and the officer to whom had been assigned the duty
of prévôt-marshal was directed to produce his prisoners.
Raoul Yvard and Ithuel Bolt were brought into the cabin at the same
moment, though they came from different parts of the ship, and were
allowed to hold no communication with each other. When both were
present, they were arraigned, and the accusations were read to them.
Raoul having admitted his knowledge of English, no interpreter was
sworn, but the proceedings were had in the usual manner. As it was
intended to try the Frenchman first, and Ithuel might be wanted as a
witness, the latter was taken out of the cabin again, courts-martial
never permitting one witness to hear what another has testified,
although an ingenious substitute for ears has been adopted of late, by
publishing in the journals, from day to day, whatever passes, when the
length of the proceedings will admit of such a device.
"We will now swear the Signor Andrea Barrofaldi," commenced the Judge
Advocate, as soon as the preliminaries were observed. "This is a
Catholic bible, sir, and I will put the oaths in Italian if you will
have the goodness first to swear me in as an interpreter."
This was done, when the oath was duly administered to the
vice-governatore. Then came a few questions as to the station, country,
etc., of the witness, after which more material matter was
inquired into.
"Signor Vice-Governatore, do you know the prisoner by sight?" demanded
the Judge Advocate.
"Sir, I have had the honor to receive him in my residence in the island
of Elba."
"Under what name and circumstances was he known to you, Signore?"
"Eh--he called himself Sir Smees, a capitano in the service of the
English king."
"What vessel did he pretend to command?"
"Ze Ving-y-Ving--a lugger, which I have since had reason to think is le
Feu-Follet, a corsair under the French flag. Monsieur did me the favor
to make two visits to Porto Ferrajo in the character of Sir Smees."
"And you know now that this is Raoul Yvard, the French privateersman you
have mentioned?"
"Eh--_know?_--I know they _say_ this is the Signor Yvard, and that ze
Ving-y-Ving is le Feu-Follet."
"They _say_ will not do, Signor Barrofaldi. Can you not say this much of
your own knowledge?"
"Non, Signore."
The court was now cleared; when it re-opened Vito Viti was sent for and
properly sworn, his attention being particularly directed to the cross
on the back of the book.
"Did you ever see the prisoner before this occasion, Signor Viti?"
demanded the Judge Advocate, after the preliminary questions had
been put.
"Signore, oftener than it is agreeable to remember. I do not think that
two grave magistrates were ever more mystified than were the
vice-governatore and myself! Eh-h-h--Signori, the wisest sometimes
become like sucking children, when there passes a mist before the
understanding."
"Relate the circumstances under which this occurred, to the court,
Signor Podestà."
"Why, Signori, the facts were just these. Andrea Barrofaldi, as you
know, is the vice-governatore of Porto Ferrajo, and I am its unworthy
podestà. Of course it is our duty to look into all matters affecting the
public weal, and more especially into the business and occupations of
strangers who come into our island. Well, it is now three weeks or more
since the lugger or felucca was seen--"
"Which was it, a felucca or a lugger?" demanded the Judge Advocate,
holding his pen ready to write the answer.
"Both, Signore; a felucca and a lugger."
"Ah--there were two; a felucca and a lugger."
"No, Signore; but this felucca was a lugger. Tommaso Tonti wished to
mystify me about that, too; but I have not been podestà in a seaport so
many years for nothing. No, Signori, there are all sorts of
feluccas--ship-feluccas, brig-feluccas, and lugger-feluccas."
When this answer was translated, the members of the court smiled, while
Raoul Yvard laughed out honestly.
"Well, Signor Podestà," resumed the Judge Advocate--"the prisoner came
into Porto Ferrajo in a lugger?"
"So it was said, Signore. I did not see him actually on board of her,
but he professed to be the commander of a certain vessel, in the service
of the King of Inghilterra, called ze Ving-y-Ving, and said that his own
name was Smees--si--il capitano, or Sir Smees."
"Professed? Do you not know that this lugger was the notorious French
privateer, le Feu-Follet?"
"I know they say so now, Signori; but the vice-governatore and I
supposed her to be ze Ving-y-Ving."
"And do you not know that the prisoner is actually Raoul Yvard; of your
own knowledge, I mean?"
"Corpo di Bacco!--How should I know any such thing, Signor
Guideca-Avvocato," exclaimed Vito Viti, who literally translated what he
understood to be the title of his interrogator, thereby converting him
into a sort of ship-felucca--"how should I know any such thing? I do
not keep company with corsairs, except when they come upon, our island
and call themselves 'Sir Smees.'"
The Judge Advocate and the members of the court looked gravely at each
other. No one in the least doubted that the prisoner was Raoul Yvard,
but it was necessary legally to prove it before he could be condemned.
Cuffe was now asked if the prisoner had not confessed his own identity,
but no one could say he had done so in terms, although his conversation
would seem to imply as much. In a word, justice was like to be in what
is by no means an unusual dilemma for that upright functionary, viz.,
unable to show a fact that no one doubted. At length Cuffe recollected
Ghita and Ithuel, and he wrote their names on a piece of paper, and
passed them down the table to the Judge Advocate. The latter nodded his
head, as much as to say he understood the president's meaning; and then
he told the prisoner he might cross-examine the witness if he saw fit.
Raoul fully understood his situation. Although he certainly had not
entered the Bay of Naples with any of the ordinary views of a spy, he
was aware how far he had committed himself, and foresaw the readiness
with which his enemies would destroy him, could they find the legal
means of so doing. He also comprehended the dilemma in which his
accusers were placed for the want of testimony, and at once resolved to
turn the circumstance as much as possible to his advantage. Until that
moment the idea of denying his own identity had never crossed his mind;
but perceiving what he fancied an opening for escape, it was but natural
to avail himself of its protection. Turning, then, to the podestà, he
put his questions in English, that they might go fairly through the same
process of interpretation as the rest of the examination.
"You say, Signor Podestà," he commenced, "that you saw me in the town of
Porto Ferrajo and in the island of Elba?"
"Si--in which town I have the honor to be one of the authorities."
"You say I professed to command a vessel in the service of the King of
England; a felucca, called ze Ving-and-Ving?"
"Si--ze Ving-y-Ving--the commander of that felucca."
"I understood you to say, Mr. Podestà," put in Lyon, "that the craft was
a lugger?"
"A felucca-lugger, Signor Capitano--nothing more nor less than that, on
my honor."
"And all these honorable officers well know," observed Raoul,
ironically, "that a felucca-lugger and a lugger such as le Feu-Follet is
understood to be are very different things. Now, Signore, you have never
heard me say that I am a Frenchman?"
"Non--you have not been so weak as to confess that to one who hates the
name of the Françese. Cospetto! If all the Grand Duke's subjects
detested his enemies as I do, he would be the most powerful prince
in Italy!"
"No doubt, Signore; and now suffer me to inquire if you heard any other
name for that felucca than ze Ving-and-Ving. Did I ever call her le
Feu-Follet?"
"Non--always ze Ving-y-Ving; never anything else; but--"
"Your pardon, Signore; have the goodness to answer my questions. I
called the felucca ze Ving-and-Ving; and I called myself le Capitaine
Smeet; is it not true?"
"Si--Ving-y-Ving and il Capitano Smees--Sir Smees, a signore of an
illustrious English family of that name, if I remember right."
Raoul smiled, for he was confident this notion proceeded principally
from the self-illusion of the two Italians themselves; the little he had
said on the subject having been drawn out more by their suggestions than
by any design on his part. Still he did not deem it prudent to
contradict the podestà, who, as yet, had testified to nothing that could
possibly criminate him.
"If a young man has the vanity to wish to be thought noble," answered
Raoul, calmly, "it may prove his folly, but it does not prove him a spy.
You did not hear me confess myself a Frenchman, you say: now did you not
hear me say I was born in Guernsey?"
"Si--the Signore did say that the family of Smees came from that
island--as the vice-governatore calls it, though I acknowledge I never
heard of such an island. There are Sicilia, Sardegna, Elba, Caprea,
Ischia, Irlanda, Inghilterra, Scozia, Malta, Capraya, Pianosa, Gorgona,
and America, with several more in the east; but I never heard of such an
island as Guernsey. Si, Signore; we are humble people, and I hope modest
people in the island of Elba, but we do know something of the rest of
the world, notwithstanding. If you wish to hear these matters touched on
ingeniously, however, you will do well to call in the vice-governatore
for half an hour and invite him to open his stores of knowledge. San
Antonio!--I doubt if Italy has his equal--at islands, in particular."
"Good," continued Raoul; "and now tell these officers, Signore Podestà,
if you can say on your oath, that I had anything to do with that
felucca, ze Ving-and-Ving, at all."
"I cannot, Signore, except from your own words. You were dressed like
one of these officers, here, in an English uniform, and said you
commanded ze Ving-y-Ving. While speaking of islands, Signori, I forgot
Palmavola and Ponza, both of which we passed in this ship on our voyage
from Elba."
"Good--it is always well to be particular under oath. Now, Signor
Podestà, the result of all your evidence is, that you do not know that
the felucca you mention was le Feu-Follet, that I am a Frenchman even,
much less that I am Raoul Yvard, and that I told you that I was from
Guernsey, and that my name was Jacques Smeet--is it not so?"
"Si--you did say your name was Giac Smees, and you did not say you were
Raoul Yvard. But, Signore, I saw you firing your cannon at the boats of
this frigate, with French colors flying, and that is some signs of an
enemy, as we understand these matters in Porto Ferrajo."
Raoul felt that this was a direct blow; still, it wanted the connecting
link to make it testimony.
"But you did not see _me_ doing this?--You mean you saw ze Ving-and-Ving
in a combat with the frigate's boats."
"Si--that was it--but you told me you were commander of ze Ving-y-Ving."
"Let us understand you," put in the Judge Advocate--"is it the
intention of the prisoner to deny his being a Frenchman and an enemy?"
"It is my intention, sir, to deny everything that is not proved."
"But your accent--your English--nay, your appearance show that you are a
Frenchman?"
"Your pardon, sir. There are many nations that speak French which are
not French to-day. All along the north frontier of France is French
spoken by foreigners--Savoy, and Geneva, and Vaud--also the English have
French subjects in the Canadas, besides Guernsey and Jersey. You will
not hang a man because his accent is not from London?"
"We shall do you justice, prisoner," observed Cuffe, "and you shall have
the benefit of every doubt that makes in your favor. Still, it may be
well to inform you that the impression of your being a Frenchman and
Raoul Yvard is very strong; and if you can show to the contrary, you
would do well to prove it by direct testimony."
"How will this honorable court expect that to be done? I was taken in a
boat last night and am tried this morning at a notice as short as that
which was given to Caraccioli. Give me time to send for witnesses, and I
will prove who and what I am."
This was said coolly and with the air of a man assured of his own
innocence, and it produced a slight effect on his judges; for an appeal
to the unvarying principles of right seldom falls unheeded on the ear.
Nevertheless, there could be no doubt in the minds of the officers of
the Proserpine, in particular, either as to the character of the lugger
or as to that of the prisoner; and men, under such circumstances, were
not likely to allow an enemy who had done them so much injury to escape.
The appeal only rendered them more cautious, and more determined to
protect themselves against charges of unfair proceedings.
"Have you any further questions to put to the witness, prisoner?"
inquired the president of the court.
"None at present, sir--we will go on, if you please, gentlemen."
"Call Ithuel Bolt," said the Judge Advocate, reading the new witness's
name from a list before him.
Raoul started, for the idea of the American's being brought forward in
this capacity had never occurred to him. In a minute Ithuel appeared,
was sworn, and took his place at the foot of the table.
"Your name is Ithuel Bolt?" observed the Judge Advocate, holding his pen
in readiness to record the answer.
"So they say aboard here," answered the witness, coolly--"though, for
my part, I've no answer to give to such a question."
"Do you deny your name, sir?"
"I deny nothing--want to say nothing, or to have anything to do with
this trial or this ship."
Raoul breathed easier; for, to own the truth, he had not much confidence
in Ithuel's constancy or disinterestedness; and he apprehended that he
had been purchased with the promise of a pardon for himself.
"You will remember that you are under oath, and may be punished for
contumacy on refusing to answer."
"I've some gineral idees of law," answered Ithuel, passing his hand over
his queue to make sure it was right, "for we all do a little at that in
Ameriky. I practised some myself, when a young man, though it was only
afore a justice-peace. _We_ used to hold that a witness needn't answer
ag'in himself."
"Is it, then, on account of criminating yourself that you answer thus
vaguely?"
"I decline answering that question," answered Ithuel, with an air of
dignity.
"Witness, have you any personal knowledge of the prisoner?"
"I decline answering that question, too."
"Do you know anything of such a person as Raoul Yvard?"
"What if I do?--I'm a native American, and have a right to form
acquaintances in foreign lands if I see it's to my interest, or it's
agreeable to my feelin's."
"Have you never served on board His Majesty's ships?"
"What majesty?--There's no majesty in Ameriky, as I know, but the
majesty of heaven."
"Remember that your answers are all recorded, and may tell against you
on some other occasion."
"Not lawfully; a witness can't be made to give answers that tell ag'in
himself."
"Certainly not _made_ to do it; still he may _do_ it of his own accord."
"Then it's the duty of the court to put him on his guard. I've heerd
that ag'in and ag'in in Ameriky."
"Did you ever see a vessel called le Feu-Follet?"
"How in natur' is a mariner to tell all the vessels he may happen to see
on the wide ocean!"
"Did you ever serve under the French flag?"
"I decline entering at all into my private affairs. Being free, I'm free
to sarve where I please."
"It is useless to ask this witness any further questions," Cuffe quietly
observed. "The man is well known in this ship, and his own trial will
most probably take place as soon as this is ended."
The Judge Advocate assented, and Ithuel was permitted to withdraw, his
contumacy being treated with the indifference that power is apt to
exhibit toward weakness. Still there was no legal proof on which to
convict the prisoner. No one doubted his guilt, and there were the
strongest reasons, short of a downright certainty, for supposing that he
commanded the lugger which had so recently fought the boats of the very
ship in which the court was sitting; but notwithstanding, supposition
was not the evidence the laws required; and the recent execution of
Caraccioli had made so much conversation that few would condemn without
seeing their justification before them. Things were really getting to be
seriously awkward, and the court was again cleared for the purpose of
consultation. In the private discourse that followed, Cuffe stated all
that had occurred, the manner in which Raoul had been identified, and
the probabilities--nay, moral certainties--of the case. At the same
time, he was forced to allow that he possessed no direct evidence that
the lugger he had chased was a Frenchman at all, and least of all le
Feu-Follet. It is true, she had worn the French flag, but she had also
worn the English, and the Proserpine had done the same thing. To be
sure, the lugger had _fought_ under the _drapeau tricolor_, which might
be taken as a strong circumstance against her; but it was not absolutely
conclusive, for the circumstances might possibly justify deception to
the last moment; and he admitted that the frigate herself had _appeared_
to fire at the batteries under the same ensign. The case was allowed to
be embarrassing; and, while no one really doubted the identity of
Raoul, those who were behind the curtains greatly feared they might be
compelled to adjourn the trial for want of evidence, instead of making
an immediate sentence the means of getting possession of the lugger, as
had been hoped. When all these points had been sufficiently discussed,
and Cuffe had let his brethren into his view of the real state of the
case, he pointed out a course that he still trusted would prove
effectual. After a few minutes of further deliberation on this
information, the doors were opened and the court resumed its public
sitting, as before.
"Let a young woman who is known by the name of Ghita be brought in
next," said the Judge Advocate, consulting his notes.
Raoul started, and a shade of manly concern passed over his face; but he
soon recovered and seemed unmoved. Ghita and her uncle had been taken
from the cabin stateroom, and placed below, in order that the private
consultation might be perfectly secret, and it was necessary to wait a
few minutes until she could be summoned. These past, the door opened,
and the girl entered the room. She cast a glance of tender concern at
Raoul; but the novelty of her situation, and the awful character of an
oath to one of her sensitive conscience and utter inexperience, soon
drew her attention entirely to the scene more immediately before her.
The Judge Advocate explained the nature of the oath she was required to
take, and then he administered it. Had Ghita been taken less by
surprise, or had she in the least foreseen the consequences, no human
power could have induced her to submit to be sworn; but, ignorant of all
this, she submitted passively, kissing the cross with reverence, and
even offering to kneel as she made the solemn protestation. All this was
painful to the prisoner, who distinctly foresaw the consequences. Still,
so profound was his reverence for Ghita's singleness of heart and mind,
that he would not, by look or gesture, in any manner endeavor to
undermine that sacred love of truth which he knew formed the very
foundations of her character. She was accordingly sworn, without
anything occurring to alarm her affectations, or to apprise her of what
might be the sad result of the act.