Заборонений ліс

           "

           "Nodoubtafalsereport,Mr.Archibald,"saidtheModerator."It’slikethattheworthysodgershadbeenlookingatthewinewhenitwasredandwerenathatclearintheirunderstanding."

           "IcannotchargemymemorywithwhatIsaid,"Davidreplied,"butitmaywellhavebeenassetforth.That,atanyrate,waswhatIhaditinmymindtosay."

           AsighofreprobationrosefromtheCourt,andtheModeratorshookhishead.HehonestlydesiredtogiveDavidawayofescape,notfromanyloveheborehim,butforthecreditoftheKirk.This,too,wasthegeneralfeeling.AsDavidlookedovertheranksofhisjudgeshesawstupidity,arrogance,confusion,writonmanyfaces,butonnonemalevolence.ThisCourtwoulddealmildlywithhim,ifhegavethemthechance,forthesakeofthereputeoftheircommoncalling.

           Helabouredtobemeek,butnoanswers,howeversoft,coulddisguisethefactthatheandtheylookeduponthingsfromstandpointseternallyconflicting.Itwassuggestedtohimagainandagainthatthestrangeratthemansehadbeenentertainedbyhishousekeeper,anignorantwomanandthereforethelessreprehensible,forhadshenotrolleduptheclothesandhiddentheminthebyre,astheaccusedadmitted?ButDavidrefusedtoshelterbehindanymisapprehension.Hehadadmittedtheman,whatwasdonehadbeenbyhisorders,and--thisinreplytoaquestionbytheministerofBold--whathehaddonehewaspreparedtodoagain.Thecloseofthefirstday’ssederuntfoundthechargesproveninsubstancebytheadmission,indeedbythevehementproclamation,oftheaccused.