"Stapleton!" cries the admiral in astonishment, "what is the meaning
of this, may I ask? Or rather," turning towards the fleet-surgeon,
who has hung back a little after entering, "perhaps I should address
my question to you; why have you brought this officer here?"
"I have an important statement to make," begins Stapleton; but the
admiral, ignoring him for the present, listens rather to the
fleet-surgeon's explanation:
"It is entirely against my advice that he has come, sir; but the
captain urged me to give way on the grounds that this officer's
health was not so important as the interests of the Service. So I
consented at last, unwillingly, and only on the condition that I
myself should accompany the patient."
"Well, well," says the admiral, finding that this explanation does
not throw very much light on the affair, "but why has your captain
sent the two of you here?"
"This officer insists that he has some very important information to
lay before the court, sir," answers the fleet-surgeon; "but before
you listen to it, I consider it my duty to tell you that I do not
consider that he is at present in such a condition of health as to
render his statements entirely reliable."
"Hm!" says the admiral, somewhat nonplussed by all this--"and what
may be this important information that you have to give us,
Stapleton?"
The tall young officer looks around the room before speaking, and his
eyes light upon Norah, who meets his glance without flinching. The
effect of this upon himself, however, is unnerving to the last
degree; he pales, and turns away his eyes immediately and almost
seems as though he would fall but for his steadying himself with his
hand on the table behind him.
"Take your time," says the admiral kindly, "I can see that you are
not really well enough to come here."
It is a wonder that Stapleton looks distressed, when he is about to
denounce the girl he loves--or has loved!
Which is it--loves? or, has loved? As he looks once more towards the
beautiful dauntless girl opposite him, he puts this question to
himself--and cannot answer it!
But before everything he is fully determined to do his duty.
Still supporting himself with one hand upon the table he stretches
out the other at full length and points towards Norah. For a moment
or two there is silence; his voice refuses to frame the words that
must be spoken. All present in the room look wonderingly at this
gaunt and silent figure in the attitude of an accuser.
Then he finds speech, and in a hollow and unnatural voice declares,
"I denounce that woman, and her friends, as the cause of the loss of
the _Marathon_!"
To say that there is consternation in the court is putting it mildly.
Such a sensation as this is more than the wildest dreamer could have
anticipated.
But the consternation is not altogether of a serious nature. Some of
the members, indeed, show by their astonished faces that they are
greatly impressed by the dramatic denunciation; but the majority of
them appear to be rather amused than otherwise--in fact, one of the
junior members gives vent to a distinct giggle, which he vainly
endeavours to hide away under a very unconvincing cough.
As for the fleet-surgeon, he is the first to speak, and what he says
is spoken rather to himself than to the assembled company.
"Oh, he's mad! Quite mad! I knew it--I ought never to have allowed
them to override my opinion," he says.
The admiral frowns slightly, and his genial face clouds over. This
is a most unfortunate occurrence in every respect; distressing to the
young ladies, and bad for Stapleton too. The fleet-surgeon ought
never to have brought him here.
But perhaps, after a shocking statement like this, it would be better
to allow the patient to commit himself a little further in order to
prove clearly that his mind is for the present unhinged and he is not
responsible for what he is saying.
So the admiral prompts him.
"Have you any proof, Mr. Stapleton, of this remarkable statement?"
"Yes. She herself made a confession to me." The accusing hand is
again lifted towards Norah.
Quite out of his mind, poor fellow! But he must still be humoured.
"What sort of a confession? Tell us."
"It was to this effect, that the whole story of the shipwreck was an
invention, a deliberate piece of deception and part of a prearranged
plan. She, and her cousin here, and the man--Mr. Sheridan--were all
of them engaged in a plot to blow up one of His Majesty's ships."
"What absurd nonsense!" breaks in a voice overcharged with shrill
indignation. "I never heard such rubbish in all my life! That man's
not in his right mind--anyone can see that! He ought to be in bed!"
"Mrs. Shaw--please!" The admiral once more finds it his duty to try
and quiet this very disturbing lady.
But the whole of the court is really in sympathy with her. It is
preposterous to outrage decency with these wild accusations.
Only one member amongst the whole court appears to take a different
view of the matter. Dimsdale bends forward attentively in his place
at the table and looks with searching eyes first upon Stapleton and
then upon the girl. But no one takes any notice of him.
"Hadn't you better take him away?" someone says in an undertone to
the fleet-surgeon.
Stapleton's ears catch the half-whispered remark. He perceives
clearly that he is an atmosphere of unbelief. Unless he can convince
his audience, he feels that in another moment he will be dismissed,
his action attributed pityingly to the wanderings of a brain-sick
man, and his chances of getting a serious hearing gone for ever. He
knows that Norah will not keep back the truth, if put to the test.
This much faith in her is left with him, the ashes of his dead
love--_is_ the love quite dead?
"Ask her!" he cries. Oh, the agony of being forced to make her utter
her own condemnation! "Ask her--she will not deny it!"
Norah's eyes again lifted towards him; and there is pride in them.
Yes, pride and gratitude that he should have this opinion of her!
The admiral perceives that Stapleton is unlikely to be quieted until
this demand is complied with. Well, the sooner this very painful
incident is brought to an end the better! So he looks apologetically
towards Norah, with the words,
"You have heard what he has said, my dear young lady. I am sorry to
distress you needlessly, but perhaps you will be good enough to reply
to him. That will set matters right, once and for all."
No answer comes from Norah's lips. She seems to be bracing herself
for an effort.
It is Stapleton himself who gives her strength to speak; ignoring the
admiral and taking upon himself the part of questioner, he demands,
"Answer the question! Did you or did you not make a confession to
me?"
And in strong clear tones comes back the answer, "I did."