At this there was subdued applause, and Lucius, after adding a few
broken words to the effect that he lived only for the maintenance of
order, peace, and happiness, and that he was devoted heart and soul to
the best interests of the community, completely broke down, and was
assisted from his place by friends.
The whole thing was so malignant and ingenious a travesty of what had
happened, that I was entirely at a loss to know what to say. The
President, however, courteously intimated that though the case appeared
to present a good many very unsatisfactory features, yet I was entirely
at liberty to justify myself if I could, and, if not, to make
submission; and added that I should be dealt with as leniently as
possible.
I summoned up my courage as well as I might. I began by saying that I
claimed no more than the liberty of thought and action which I knew the
Court desired to concede. I said that my arrival at the place was
mysterious even to myself, and that I had simply acted under orders in
accompanying Cynthia, and in seeing that she was securely bestowed. I
said that I had never incited any rebellion, or any disobedience to laws
of the scope of which I had never been informed.
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