登陆注册
3554300000023

第23章 BOOK THE SECOND:THE GOLDEN THREAD(6)

IX.A DISSAPOINTMENT

Mr. Attorney-General had to inform the jury,that the prisoner before them,though young in years,was old in the treasonable practices which claimed the forfeit of his life.That this correspondence with the public enemy was not a correspondence of today,or of yesterday,or even of last year,or of the year before.That,it was certain the prisoner had,for longer than that,been in the habit of passing and re-passing between France and England,on secret business of which he could give no honest account.That,if it were in the nature of traitorous ways to thrive(which happily it never was),the real wickedness and guilt of his business might have remained undiscovered.That Providence,however,had put it into the heart of a person who was beyond fear and beyond reproach,to ferret out the nature of the prisoner's schemes,and,struck with horror,to disclose them to his Majesty's Chief Secretary of State and most honourable Privy Council.That,this patriot would be produced before them.That,his position and attitude were,on the whole,sublime.That,he had been the prisoner's friend,but,at once in an auspicious and an evil hour detecting his infamy,had resolved to immolate the traitor he could no longer cherish in his bosom,on the sacred altar of his country.That,if statues were decreed in Britain,as in ancient Greece and Rome,to public benefactors,this shining citizen would assuredly have had one.That,as they were not so decreed,he probably would not have one.That,Virtue,as had been observed by the poets(in many passages which he well knew the jury would have,word for word,at the tips of their tongues;whereat the jury's countenances displayed a guilty consciousness that they knew nothing about the passages),was in a manner contagious;more especially the bright virtue known as patriotism,or love of country.That,the lofty example of this immaculate and unimpeachable witness for the Crown to refer to whom however unworthily was an honour,had communicated itself to the prisoner's servant,and had engendered in him a holy determination to examine his master's table-drawers and pockets,and secrete his papers.That,he(Mr.Attorney-General)was prepared to hear some disparagement attempted of this admirable servant;but that,in a general way,he preferred him to his(Mr.Attorney-General's)brothers and sisters,and honoured him more than his(Mr.Attorney-General's)father and mother.That,he called with confidence on the jury to come and do likewise.That,the evidence of these two witnesses,coupled with the documents of their discovering that would be produced,would show the prisoner to have been furnished with lists of his Majesty's forces,and of their disposition and preparation,both by sea and land,and would leave no doubt that he had habitually conveyed such information to a hostile power.That,these lists could not be proved to be in the prisoner's handwriting;but that it was all the same;that,indeed,it was rather the better for the prosecution,as showing the prisoner to be artful in his precautions.That,the proof would go back five years,and would show the prisoner already engaged in these pernicious missions within a few weeks before the date of the very first action fought between the British troops and the Americans.That,for these reasons,the jury,beinga loyal jury(as he knew they were),and being a responsible jury(as they knew they were),must positively find the prisoner Guilty,and make an end of him,whether they liked it or not.That,they never could lay their heads upon their pillows;that,they never could tolerate the idea of their wives laying their heads upon their pillows;that,they could never endure the notion of their children laying their heads upon their pillows;in short,that there never more could be,for them or theirs,any laying of heads upon pillows at all,unless the prisoner's head was taken off.That head Mr.Attorney-General concluded by demanding of them,in the name of everything he could think of with a round turn in it,and on the faith of his solemn asseveration that he already considered the prisoner as good as dead and gone.

When the Attorney-General ceased,a buzz arose in the court as if a cloud of great blue-flies were swarming about the prisoner,in anticipation of what he was soon to become. When toned down again,the unimpeachable patriot appeared in the witness-box.

Mr. Solicitor-General then,following his leader's lead,examined the patriot:John Barsad,gentleman,by name.The story of his pure soul was exactly what Mr.Attorney-General had described it to be—perhaps,if it had a fault,a little too exactly.Having released his noble bosom of its burden,he would have modestly withdrawn himself,but that the wigged gentleman with the papers before him,sitting not far from Mr.Lorry,begged to ask him a few questions.The wigged gentleman sitting opposite,still looking at the ceiling of the court.

同类推荐
  • 小儿肛胀门

    小儿肛胀门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 进船泛洛水应制

    进船泛洛水应制

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 养疴漫笔

    养疴漫笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 律要后集

    律要后集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞真太上紫文丹章

    洞真太上紫文丹章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 三国领主时代

    三国领主时代

    穿越回到两年前,踏上领主之路。从一个小村庄开始,且看他如何在三国世界搅动风云!懒猫新书,已完本《三国之模拟城市》。书友群:73641060
  • 健康的钥匙送给你

    健康的钥匙送给你

    洪昭光是去年以来,风靡海内外的大众健康专家,他的健康讲座以及所著《登上健康快车》《洪昭光健康忠告》等图书“火”遍大江南北,这两本书以每天1万册的速度在全国热销,每天上百个读者的电话“追打”着洪教授——洪昭光教授为什么会有如此魅力,他的讲座和书籍到底是怎么火起来的?他那些并不深奥、只是日常生活饮食起居中如何保持健康长寿的原则和例子,为什么会如此轰动全国?洪昭光教授经历了怎样的人生历练、为什么热衷于传授大众健康理念?他传授了哪些广受欢迎的健康理念?他到底是一个什么样的人呢?所有关心这一切的读者,会在这部报告文学中得到满意的答案。
  • 凤开新元-孟丽君传奇

    凤开新元-孟丽君传奇

    家门突变,烈女自伤。梦中醒转,已换作二十一世纪心肠。路何方,意茫茫!离家出走,偶遇皇孙,饥荒难定,无有主张。看我书生数策,解决万民渴望!生死之际见衷肠。湖广事情了,江海寄萍踪,且留侠名香。无处寻户籍,明州且从商。献策用女子,女工正式进作坊。三元及第入朝堂,豪侠门下为孟尝,宰相义女做妻房。何人更比我风光!帝王家事不可说,皇孙今日难煎熬,愁断肠。放下心,狠下意,荐出征将,献入瓮计,转眼之间,叛逆帝子,无有生路——此事惊帝王。君王要与子孙计,肱骨之臣变柴梁。一杯毒酒,两尺碎肠,三分生望,四思五想,六神无主张。恢复女装,或有生望;然而三分雄心怎安伏!宁做雄鹰死,不做金雀生,含笑坦然对,千钧一发,皇孙终于破脸对君王。贬谪琼崖,琼崖自有好风光。办学校,引客商,百族共兴,三年吏治,好梧桐栖满金凤凰。皇孙终于登基,我今日终有出头望。再回京师,废官妓,除宗法,要为天下女子,求一条平等之路;大计未成,君臣竟然相疑。幽居临安日月长!蒙古战事起,河北无人可平蝗。主动请缨上,看我胸中主张。献上驱狼计,三年终成功,大元今日始称强。前朝遗老心不定,南海战事乱朝堂;更有居心叵测客,揭露女红妆!朝堂惊,百姓乱,君王无计,且将奇女下狱;四周质疑声起,蒙古皇后大军压境,南海公主陈兵不前,何人有主张?看我女红妆!——————————————————————主角的主要奋斗目标是:给华夏开创一个男女平等的新纪元。大女人倾向。请朋友来帮助主角谋划。————————————————引凤阁女扮男装系列文:磅礴大气的《凤开新元》清新浪漫的《明月心》睿智多才的《天是红尘岸》群号:33968745(经常踢人,潜水员慎入)
  • 毒步天下:废柴小狂妃

    毒步天下:废柴小狂妃

    她,金牌杀手,心情愉悦时让人身败名裂,神情阴郁时挥剑斩杀毫不留情!她,名门庶女,寄养在外,废棋一颗!一朝时空逆转,她变成她。恶仆欺主?杀!庶妹抢婚?带着渣滓滚!嫡姐索命?以眼还眼,以牙还牙!他,当朝皇叔,但凡露面,皆以獠牙面具遮脸,以轮椅代步。她在旁嗤笑,“尊贵的姐夫夫君,你再怎么羽扇纶巾故作潇洒,也掩盖不了你比我长一辈的事实。”他拧眉,“本王20岁!”她摊手,笑的恣意,眉眼间皆是讥讽。朝廷内外,风云陡起,阴谋阳谋层出不跌,谁又能潇洒横行。
  • 相门庶秀

    相门庶秀

    她,相门庶女,被迫代嫁,凭一腔真情满腹妙计助他画锦绣江山。他说:“画儿,若登上帝位,我必许你皇后之位,一生独宠你一人。”他说:“他朝若违背了诺言,愿被画儿你挖心掏肝。”然而,一朝嫁为他人妇,只为她人作嫁衣。亲姑姑爬上了他的龙床,她被打入冷宫,容颜尽毁,身体尽残,一对儿女双双惨死。重活一世,她要让他如愿以偿,将他挖心掏肝。姑姑伪善白莲花。“画儿,只要有姑姑一日在,必会护你一日周全。”嫡母陷害使毒计。“叶画,就凭你一个低贱的庶女也配得上太子,今日就让你名节尽毁,被浸猪笼。”嫡姐无耻抢男人。“叶画,你个贱人,你敢和我抢非寻哥哥,你连鬼王那个丑八怪都不配上。”一群狗面前狂吠,前世帐今生算,救娘亲,护弱弟,她艳杀四方,虐遍渣男狗女。她很忙,忙到男人送上门都没空理,可是这男人很不简单——无耻之极。她问他:“你甚姓名谁?”他答曰:“姓你名夫君。”她说:“滚!”他说:“好,床单已备好,一起滚。”她怒:“关门!放狗!”他呜咽:“汪,汪汪……”
  • 神宠进化

    神宠进化

    PS:本书别名——《宠物进化》新纪元来临,天地异变。地星本土动植物疯狂变异、返祖,异界物种沦落地星,最终新纪元人类诞生一种全新的职业御使。收服怪物,培养怪物,训练怪物,这就是御使。一个怀揣着梦想的少年懵懵憧憧的被一脚踢入这个黄金盛世。高鹏:就算是一条泥鳅,我也能将他进化成一只翱翔九天的真龙。-------------------------------------------致敬《宠魅》、《神奇宝贝》、《数码宝贝》,致敬我们每个人都有过的神宠梦。这是一本纯粹的宠物文。本书目前只有QQ读者交流群:724478458,有兴趣的朋友可以加入。
  • 温家女儿

    温家女儿

    有这样一个女子没有温柔婉约没有倾世容貌没有张扬性格却有万千宠爱她前世是先天心脏病,现世又是早产病儿她天生凉薄,无欲无求她就如一杯温水,不冷不热.情节一拍卖台上站着一个如花似玉的小姑娘,小姑娘很萝莉很可爱,眼泪汪汪的看着台下的衣冠禽兽,温水下手一挥,“买了,给温翔做童养媳。”某收到童养媳的孩子,涨红着脸想要拒绝,“四,四妹,你是开玩笑的吧,我,我。。。”温爸爸则在一边装墙壁。情节二对于江宁夏的滔滔不绝,温水直接无视。江宁夏看到自己说了半天,温水一句话都没搭理,心里委屈啊,这不连脸都鼓起来了。温水看看江宁夏的脸,“包子。”江宁夏一下子囧了,他是长的白白嫩嫩的,可是也不能直接就叫他包子吧。。。情节三“你以为你有什么了不起,要不是温家,你以为你能这么草菅人命。”。。。“别以为生在温家就能无法无天,有本事你就弄死我。”。。。“看什么看,别以为你看我,我就怕你,我长这么大,还没爬过谁呢。”。。。“我告诉你,要不是看你是个女的,我早就揍你了,你信不信。”。。。“吵什么吵,安静点。”“嘿嘿,兄弟,你们老大什么时候放我出去啊。”“放什么放,看你这出息,也就敢对着镜子放狠话。”
  • 太上洞玄济众经

    太上洞玄济众经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜕变:年轻人快速成长的108个秘诀

    蜕变:年轻人快速成长的108个秘诀

    本书是作者将自己历年的培训内容整理加工编撰成书,涵盖108个实操性很强的方法,助力年轻人的成长与蝶变,主要内容有人际沟通,读书方法,学习方法、职场新人注意事项、公众演说等方面,是年轻人成长之旅不可或缺的一本书。
  • 世界未解之谜全知道

    世界未解之谜全知道

    在绵延不绝的谴界历史长河中,人类创造了辉煌灿烂的世界文明,又给后人留下了众多扑朔迷离的未解之谜——特洛伊战争真的爆发过吗、牛顿的黑匣子里藏着什么秘密、古巴比伦的通天塔修在何处、二战中德国为何未能造出原子弹、埃及金字塔隐藏着多少千古之谜泰坦尼克号因何沉没海底、是谁建造了英国庞大的巨石阵 希特勒因何下令大肆屠杀犹太人、华盛顿为何拒绝竞选第三任总统 日本天皇二战后逃脱审判之谜、拿破仑神秘死亡的真相是什么、肯尼迪家族为何悲剧不断——走进神秘莫测的历史长廊,打开一段段尘封的往事和谜题,在探索中增长人生见识,在沉思中肩负历史使命,迈向无限广阔、无限精彩的未来世界!