At this there were loud murmurs in the court.  The paper had fallen from the face of Justice Hide.  His brother justice was livid with rage.

“What fellow is this?” said the latter judge, with obvious uneasiness.  “A dalesman from the mountains, did you say?”

“Dalesman or not, my lord, a cunning and dangerous man,” replied counsel.

“I see already that he is one who is ready to say anything to save his miserable life.”

“Brother Millet,” interrupted the other judge, “you have rightly observed that this is a court of his Gracious Majesty.  Let us conduct it as such.”

There was a rustle of gowns before the table and some whispering in the court.

“Mr. Ray, you have heard the indictment.  It charges you as a false traitor against his Most Gracious Majesty, your supreme and natural lord.  The course is for you to plead Guilty or Not Guilty.”

“Have I no right to the General Pardon?” asked Ralph.

Justice Millet, recovering from some temporary discomfiture, interposed,—­

“The proclamation of pardon was issued before his Majesty came into possession.”

“And my crime—­was not that committed before the King came into possession?  Are the King’s promises less sacred than the people’s laws?”

Again some murmuring in the court.

“Brother Hide, is the court to be troubled longer with these idle disputations?”

“I ask for counsel,” said Ralph.

“This,” replied Justice Hide, “is not a matter in which counsel can be assigned.  If your crime be treason, it cannot be justified; if it be justifiable, it is not treason.  The law provides that we shall be your counsel, and, as such, I advise that you do not ask exemption under the Act of Oblivion, for that is equal to a confession.”  “I do not confess,” said Ralph.

“You must plead Guilty or Not Guilty.  There is no third course.  Are you Guilty or Not Guilty?”

There was a stillness like that of the chamber of death in the court as this was spoken.

Ralph paused, lifted his head, and looked calmly about him.  Every eye was fixed on his face.  That face was as firm as a rock.  Two eyes near the door were gleaming with the light of fiendish triumph.  Ralph returned his gaze to the judges.  Still the silence was unbroken.  It seemed to hang in the air.

“Guilty or Not Guilty?”

There was no reply.

“Does the prisoner refuse to plead?” asked Justice Hide.  Still there was no reply.  Not a whisper in the court; not the shuffle of a foot.  The judge’s voice fell slowly on the ear,—­

“Ralph Ray, we would not have you deceive yourself.  If you do not plead, it will be the same with you as if you had confessed.”

“Am I at liberty to stand mute?”

“Assuredly not,” Justice Millet burst out, pulling his robes about him.

“Your pardon, brother; it is the law that the prisoner may stand mute if he choose.”