human
You are either very simple, or extremely the reverse, and I see that I must deal with you more confidentially, says he.
gpt
This is a political case--ah, yes, Mr. Balfour! whether we like it or no, the case is political--and I tremble when I think what issues may depend from it. To a political case, I need scarce tell a young man of your education, we approach with very different thoughts from one which is criminal only. _Salus populi suprema lex_ is a maxim susceptible of great abuse, but it has that force which we find elsewhere only in the laws of nature: I mean it has the force of necessity. I will open this out to you, if you will allow me, at more length. You would have me believe--
human
Under your pardon, my lord, I would have you to believe nothing but that which I can prove,
gpt
Tut! tut! young gentleman, says he,
human
And I can just say plainly that the innocence of Alan and of James is what I am here to declare in private to your lordship, and what I am prepared to establish at the trial by my testimony,
gpt
To which I can only answer by an equal plainness, Mr. Balfour, said he,
human
You are at the head of Justice in this country, I cried,
gpt
I am a man nursing with both hands the interests of this country, he replied,
human
I desire not to be thought to make a repartee, when I express only the plain sense of our position, said I.
gpt
But if your lordship has no need of my testimony, I believe the other side would be extremely blythe to get it.
human
You are not so young, he said,
gpt
I can bear you out in that,
human
Disturbance in the Highlands makes the hour of our old watchful enemy, pursued his lordship, holding out a finger as he paced;
gpt
You deal with me very frankly, and I thank you for it, said I.
human
I will try on my side to be no less honest. I believe your policy to be sound. I believe these deep duties may lie upon your lordship; I believe you may have laid them on your conscience when you took the oaths of the high office which you hold. But for me, who am just a plain man--or scarce a man yet--the plain duties must suffice. I can think but of two things, of a poor soul in the immediate and unjust danger of a shameful death, and of the cries and tears of his wife that still tingle in my head. I cannot see beyond, my lord. It's the way that I am made. If the country has to fall, it has to fall. And I pray God, if this be wilful blindness, that he may enlighten me before too late.
gpt
This is an unexpected obstacle,
human
And how is your lordship to dispose of me?
gpt
If I wished, said he,
human
My lord, says I,
gpt
I have slept in worse places.
human
Well, my boy, said he,
gpt
I will give it till to-morrow or any other near day that you may please to set, said I.
human
I would not be thought too wily; but if I gave the promise without qualification, your lordship would have attained his end.
gpt
I had no thought to entrap you,
human
I am sure of that,
gpt
Let me see, he continued.
human
To-morrow is the Sabbath. Come to me on Monday by eight in the morning, and give me your promise until then.
gpt
Freely given, my lord, said I.
human
And with regard to what has fallen from yourself, I will give it for as long as it shall please God to spare your days.
gpt
You will observe, he said next,
human
It was like your lordship's nobility, said I.
gpt
Yet I am not altogether so dull but what I can perceive the nature of those you have not uttered.
human
Well, said he,