Американська трагедія

Chapter 23

           Andthosepassages,gentlemen,plainlyindicatethatitwasonlyunderthestressofmoralandmaterialworry,duetohercondition—forwhichhewasresponsible,ofcourse,butwhich,nevertheless,waswiththeconsentofboth—aboyoftwenty-oneandagirloftwenty-three—thatheagreedtomarryher.Isthat,Iaskyou,anopenandproperengagement—thekindofanengagementyouthinkofwhenyouthinkofoneatall?Mindyou,Iamnotseekingtofloutorbelittleorreflectinanywayonthispoor,deadgirl.Iamsimplystating,asamatteroffactandoflaw,thatthisboywasnotformallyengagedtothisdeadgirl.Hehadnotgivenherhiswordbeforehandthathewouldmarryher...Never!Thereisnoproof.Youmustgivehimthebenefitofthat.Andonlybecauseofhercondition,forwhichweadmithewasresponsible,hecameforwardwithanagreementtomarryher,incase...incase"(andherehepausedandrestedonthephrase),"shewasnotwillingtoreleasehim.Andsinceshewasnotwillingtoreleasehim,ashervariouslettersreadhereshow,thatagreement,onpainofapublicexposureinLycurgus,becomes,intheeyesandwordsofthedistrictattorney,anengagement,andnotonlythatbutasacredengagementwhichnoonebutascoundrelandathiefandamurdererwouldattempttosever!But,gentlemen,manyengagements,moreopenandsacredintheeyesofthelawandofreligion,havebeenbroken.

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