y beneath the
weapon of my antagonist, by which already I had received a severe and
dangerous wound.

"I should hesitate here, my lords," said I, "before I spoke of one who
then came to my aid, if I did not know that he is already removed by
a heavy sentence, both from the penalty his gallant conduct might call
down on him, and the enmity which the prosecutor would as certainly
pursue him with. But he is beyond the reach of either, and I may speak
of him freely."

I then told of Darby's appearance that night in the barrack, disguised
as a ballad-singer; how in this capacity he passed the sentry, and was
present in the room when the officers entered to decide the wager; that
he had quitted it soon after their arrival, and only returned on hearing
the noise of the scuffle between Crofts and myself. The struggle itself
I remembered but imperfectly, but so far as my memory bore me out,
recapitulated to the court.

"I will relate, my lords," said I, "the few events which followed,--not
that they can in any wise corroborate the plain statement I have made,
nor indeed that they bear, save remotely, on the events mentioned; but
I will do so in the hope,--a faint hope it is,--that in this court there
might be found some one person who could add his testimony to mine, and
say, 'This is true; to that I can myself bear witness.'"

With this brief preface, I told how Darby had brought me to a house in
an obscure street, in which a man, apparently dying, was stretched upon
a miserable bed; that while my wound was being dressed, a car came to
the door with the intention of conveying the sick man away somewhere.
This, however, was deemed impossible, so near did his last hour appear;
and in his place I was taken off, and placed on board the vessel bound
for France.

"Of my career in that country it is needless that I should speak; it
can neither throw light upon the events which preceded it, nor have
any interest for the court My commission as a captain of the Imperial
Hussars may, however, testify the position that I occupied; while the
certificate of the minister of war on the back will show that I quitted
the service voluntarily, and with honor."

"The court would advise you, sir," said the judge, "not to advert to
circumstances which, while they contribute nothing to your exculpation,
may have a very serious effect on the minds of the jury against you.
Have you any witnesses to call?"

"None, my lord."

A pause of some mi