But I deny your jurisdiction in the matter, or that of any
English court, since I have committed no piracy in English waters."

Lord Henry admits that the answer silenced and bewildered him, being
utterly unexpected. Yet what the prisoner urged was a truth so obvious
that it was difficult to apprehend how his lordship had come to overlook
it. I rather fear that despite his judicial office, jurisprudence was
not a strong point with his lordship. But Sir John, less perspicuous or
less scrupulous in the matter, had his retort ready.

"Did you not come to Arwenack and forcibly carry off thence...."

"Nay, now, nay, now," the corsair interrupted, good-humouredly. "Go back
to school, Sir John, to learn that abduction is not piracy."

"Call it abduction, if you will," Sir John admitted.

"Not if I will, Sir John. We'll call it what it is, if you please."

"You are trifling, sir. But we shall mend that presently," and Sir John
banged the table with his fist, his face flushing slightly in anger.
(Lord Henry very properly deplores this show of heat at such a time.)
"You cannot pretend to be ignorant," Sir John continued, "that abduction
is punishable by death under the law of England." He turned to his
fellow-judges. "We will then, sirs, with your concurrence, say no more
of the piracy."

"Faith," said Lord Henry in his gentle tones, "in justice we cannot."
And he shrugged the matter aside. "The prisoner is right in what he
claims. We have no jurisdiction in that matter, seeing that he committed
no piracy in English waters, nor--so far as our knowledge goes--against
any vessel sailing under the English flag."

Rosamund stirred. Slowly she took her elbows from the table, and folded
her arms resting them upon the edge of it. Thus leaning forward she
listened now with an odd brightness in her eye, a slight flush in her
cheeks reflecting some odd excitement called into life by Lord Henry's
admission--an admission which sensibly whittled down the charges against
the prisoner.

Sir Oliver, watching her almost furtively, noted this and marvelled,
even as he marvelled at her general composure. It was in vain that he
sought to guess what might be her attitude of mind towards himself now
that she was safe again among friends and protectors.

But Sir John, intent only upon the business ahead, plunged angrily on.

"Be it so," he admitted impatiently. "We will deal with him upon the
counts of abduction and murder. Have you anythin