Заборонений ліс
XIV. The Counterblast
YouhavethemanAndrewShillinglawinReiverslaw,who,inthebitofprecognitionwithwhichyouhavefurnishedme,tellsadafttaleofdressinghimselfuplikeamountebank,visitingthewoodofMelanudrigill,andsharingincertainunlawfuldoings.Iaskyou,sir,whatcredencecanbegiventosuchevidence?Imprimis,hewashimselfengagedinwrongdoing,andsoisjustlysuspect.Item,heisanotoriouswine-bibber,andwhenthemautisin,thewitsareout.WhatnaconditionwasheintoobservejustlyinthemirkofthenightintheBlackWood,wherebyhisownaccounthewascaperinglikeapuddockandwasallthetimeinagrueofterror?HeclaimsonthatoccasiontohavelaidatrapfortheaccusedandtohaveinformedtwomenofundoubtedChristianconversationofhispurpose,andheclaimsthatonthenextdaythesamewitnessesatthetounofChasehopewerecognizantofthesuccessofhistrap.AsIlivebybreadandbythehopeofsalvation,thisisthedaftesttalethatevercametomyears.Asmellofburningduds,andamissinghen!TheveriestcateranthateverreivedintheHielandswouldbeassoilziedonsuchaplea.Thereisnotevidenceheretohangamessandog.Awaywithyou,man,andlet’shearnomoreofwhatIcanonlyjudgetohavebeenadrunkencantrip."
"IdemandthatEphraimCairdbeinterrogatedbythePresbyteryandconfrontedwithmeandmywitnesses."
"Youmustfirstproveaprimafaciecase,asIsay,forotherwisehonestmenmightlosetimeandsillerinbeingsettoanswermaliciouslibels.
