"Yes, sir, that is correct." "Then you may go, Mr. Ward, and see that the poor fellows are taken on board the Tyger and well looked after." As the officer saluted and withdrew the admiral turned to Clive. "Now for this white pirate," he said: "a most unpleasant matter, truly." Signing to the marines to bring forward their prisoner, he threw himself back upon the divan, leaving the matter in Clive's hands. Clive was gazing hard at Diggle, who had lost the look of terror he had worn two nights before, and stood before them in his usual attitude of careless ease. "You captured this man," said Clive, turning to Desmond, "within the precincts of the fort?" His hard level tone contrasted strongly with the urbaner manner of the admiral. "Yes, sir," replied Desmond. "He is the same man who inveigled you on board the interloper Good Intent and delivered you to the Pirate?" "And he was to your knowledge associated with the Pirate, and offered you inducements to spy upon his Majesty's forces in Bombay?" "Yes, sir." "Have you anything to say for yourself, Mr. Peloti?" "Pardon me, Mr. Clive; Diggle--Marmaduke Diggle." "Diggle, if you like," said Clive with a shrug. "You will hang as well in that name as another." One of the officers smiled at the grim jest, but there was no smile on Clive's stern set face. "You asked me if I had anything to say for myself," said Diggle quietly. "Assuredly; but it seems your Honors have condemned me already. Why should I waste your time, and my breath? I bethink me 'twas not even in Rome the custom to judge a matter before learning the facts--prius rem dijudicare--but it is a long time, Mr. Clive, since we conned our Terence together." Desmond could not but admire the superb insouciance and the easy smile with which Diggle played his card. Seeing that Clive for an instant hesitated, the intrepid prisoner continued: "But there, Mr. Clive, you never excelled in the Latin. 'Twas a sore point with poor Mr. Burslem." "Come, come," cried Clive, visibly nettled, "this is no time for quips. You fail to appreciate your position. You are caught red handed. If you have no defense to make you will meet the fate of other pirates before you. Have you anything to say?" "Yes. You accuse me of piracy; I have a complete answer to that charge; but as an Englishman I claim an Englishman's right--a fair trial before a jury of my countrymen. In any case, Mr. Clive, it would be invidious to give me worse treatment than Monaji Angria and his officers. As for the rest, it depends on the evidence of this single witness." Here Admiral Watson bent forward and said to Clive in an undertone, inaudible to the others: "I think we had better defer this. If, as you suppose, the fellow has knowledge of the French plans, it would be only politic to give Mr. Bourchier an opportunity of inquiring into the matter. No doubt he richly deserves hanging, but dead men tell no tales."