ng to the prisoner."

"I mean to say, my Lord, that were I to hear him utter the same words in
an excited tone, I should be able to swear to them."

"That's a lie!" cried Curtis.

"These were the words, and that the voice, my Lord," said Vereker; and
as he spoke, a deep murmur of agitated feeling rang through the crowded
court.

"By Heaven!" cried Curtis, in a tone of passionate excitement, "I hold
my life as cheaply as any man; but I cannot see it taken away by the
breath of a false witness: let me interrogate this man." In vain was it
that the practised counsel appointed to conduct his case interposed,
and entreated of him to be silent. To no purpose did they beg of him
to leave in their hands the difficult game of cross-examination. He
rejected their advice as haughtily as he had refused their services, and
at once addressed himself to the critical task.

"With whom had you dined, sir, on the day in question,--the 7th of
June?" asked he of Vereker.

"I dined with Sir Marcus Hutchinson."

"There was a large party?"

"There was."

"Tell us, so far as you remember, the names of the guests."

"Some were strangers to me,--from England, I believe; but of those
I knew before, I can call to mind Leonard Fox, Hamilton Gore, John
Fortescue, and his brother Edward, Tom Beresford, and poor Rutledge."

"It was a convivial party, and you drank freely?"

"Freely, but not to excess."

"You dined at five o'clock?"

"At half-after five."

"And rose from table about eleven?"

"About that hour."

"There were speeches made and toasts drunk, I believe?"

"There were,--a few."

"The toasts and the speeches were of an eminently loyal character; they
all redounded to the honor and credit of the Government?"

"Highly so."

"And as strikingly did they reflect upon the character of all Irishmen
who opposed the ministry, and assumed for themselves the position of
patriots. Come, sir, no hesitation; answer my question boldly. Is this
not true?"

"We certainly did not regard the party you speak of as being true and
faithful subjects of the king."

"You thought them rebels?"

"Perhaps not exactly rebels."

"You called them rebels; and you yourself prayed that the time was
coming when the lamp-iron and the lash should reward their loyalty. Can
you deny this?"

"We had a great deal of conversation about politics. We talked in all
the freedom of friendly intercourse, and, doubtless, with some of that
warmth which a