A pale smile momentarily lightened the wistful countenance.

“I believe you.  You shall be fully heard when you come to your defence.  But anything you say now is altogether irregular and improper.”

Enheartened by that apparent sympathy and consideration, Mr. Blood answered thereafter, as was required of him, that he would be tried by God and his country.  Whereupon, having prayed to God to send him a good deliverance, the clerk called upon Andrew Baynes to hold up his hand and plead.

From Baynes, who pleaded not guilty, the clerk passed on to Pitt, who boldly owned his guilt.  The Lord Chief Justice stirred at that.

“Come; that’s better,” quoth he, and his four scarlet brethren nodded.  “If all were as obstinate as his two fellow-rebels, there would never be an end.”

After that ominous interpolation, delivered with an inhuman iciness that sent a shiver through the court, Mr. Pollexfen got to his feet.  With great prolixity he stated the general case against the three men, and the particular case against Peter Blood, whose indictment was to be taken first.

The only witness called for the King was Captain Hobart.  He testified briskly to the manner in which he had found and taken the three prisoners, together with Lord Gildoy.  Upon the orders of his colonel he would have hanged Pitt out of hand, but was restrained by the lies of the prisoner Blood, who led him to believe that Pitt was a peer of the realm and a person of consideration.

As the Captain’s evidence concluded, Lord Jeffreys looked across at Peter Blood.

“Will the prisoner Blood ask the witness any questions?”

“None, my lord.  He has correctly related what occurred.”

“I am glad to have your admission of that without any of the prevarications that are usual in your kind.  And I will say this, that here prevarication would avail you little.  For we always have the truth in the end.  Be sure of that.”

Baynes and Pitt similarly admitted the accuracy of the Captain’s evidence, whereupon the scarlet figure of the Lord Chief Justice heaved a sigh of relief.

“This being so, let us get on, in God’s name; for we have much to do.”  There was now no trace of gentleness in his voice.  It was brisk and rasping, and the lips through which it passed were curved in scorn.  “I take it, Mr. Pollexfen, that the wicked treason of these three rogues being established — indeed, admitted by them — there is no more to be said.”

Peter Blood’s voice rang out crisply, on a note that almost seemed to contain laughter.

“May it please your lordship, but there’s a deal more to be said.”

His lordship looked at him, first in blank amazement at his audacity, then gradually with an expression of dull anger.  The scarlet lips fell into unpleasant, cruel lines that transfigured the whole countenance.

“How now, rogue?  Would you waste our time with idle subterfuge?”