Do you realise what
inference the court will be compelled to draw from this?"
"The court must draw whatever inference it pleases," answered the
captain without heat.
Sir Terence stirred. "Captain Tremayne," said he, "I wish to add
my own exhortation to that of your colonel! Your position has
become extremely perilous. If you are concealing anything that may
extricate you from it, let me enjoin you to take the court frankly
and fully into your confidence."
The words in themselves were kindly, but through them ran a note of
bitterness, of cruel derision, that was faintly perceptible to
Tremayne and to one or two others.
Lord Wellington's piercing eyes looked a moment at O'Moy, then
turned upon the prisoner. Suddenly he spoke, his voice as calm
and level as his glance.
"Captain Tremayne - if the president will permit me to address you
in the interests of truth and justice - you bear, to my knowledge,
the reputation of an upright, honourable man. You are a man so
unaccustomed to falsehood that when you adventure upon it, as you
have obviously just done, your performance is a clumsy one, its
faults easily distinguished. That you are concealing something the
court must have perceived.
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