
    Mr. Falkland answered: Such a mode of defence hardly stands in need of a
reply. But I answer, I held no such conversation; I never used such words; I
received no such letter. Surely it is no sufficient refutation of a criminal
charge, that the criminal repels what is alleged against him with volubility of
speech and intrepidity of manner?
    Mr. Forester then turned to me. If, said he, you trust your vindication to
the plausibility of your tale, you must take care to render it consistent and
complete. You have not told us what was the cause of the confusion and anxiety
in which Robert professes to have found you, why you were so impatient to quit
the service of Mr. Falkland, or how you account for certain articles of his
property being found in your possession?
    All that, sir, answered I, is true. There are certain parts of my story that
I have not told. If they were told, they would not conduce to my disadvantage,
and they would make the present accusation appear still more astonishing. But I
cannot, as yet at least, prevail upon myself to tell them. Is it necessary to
give any particular and precise reasons why I should wish to change the place of
my residence? You all of you know the unfortunate state of Mr. Falkland's mind.
You know the sternness, reservedness and distance of his manners. If I had no
other reasons, surely it would afford small presumption of criminality that I
should wish to change his service for another.
    The question of how these articles of Mr. Falkland's property came to be
found in my possession is more material. It is a question I am wholly unable to
answer. Their being found there was at least as unexpected to me as to any one
of the persons now present. I only know that, as I have the most perfect
assurance of Mr. Falkland's being conscious of my innocence, for, observe! I do
not shrink from that assertion, I reiterate it with new confidence; I therefore
firmly and from my soul believe that their being there is of Mr. Falkland's
contrivance.
    I no sooner said this, than I was again interrupted by an involuntary
exclamation from every one present. They looked at me with furious glances, as
if they could have torn me to pieces. I proceeded:
    I have now answered every thing that is alleged against me.
    Mr. Forester, you are a lover of justice; I conjure you not to violate it in
my person. You are a man of penetration;
