Mr. Lacy. “And did you know the cause?” Mr. Eden. “Frankly, I did not. I had not at that time fathomed all the horrors of this place.” Mr. Lacy. “Did you tell the chaplain at the time you were starving?” Prisoner. “No!” Mr. Eden. “And why not?” Mr. Hawes. “Simply because he never was starving.” Prisoner. “Well! I'll tell you, gentlemen. His reverence said to me, 'My poor fellow, you are very ill--I must have you on the sick list directly,' and then he went for the doctor. Now I knew if I got on the sick list they would fill my belly; so I said to myself, best let well alone. If I had told him it was only starvation he would not interfere, I thought.” Mr. Lacy opened his eyes. Mr. Eden sighed. Mr. Lacy. “You seem to have a poor opinion of her majesty's officers.” Prisoner. “Didn't know him, you see--didn't know his character; the humbug that was here before him would have let a poor fellow be kicked into his grave before his eyes, and not hold out a hand to save him.” Mr. Lacy. “Let me understand you--were you kept without food?” Prisoner. “I was a day and a half without any food at all.” Mr. Lacy. “By whose orders?” Prisoner. “By the governor's there, and I was a week on a twopenny loaf once a day, and kept at hard work on that till I dropped. Ah, your reverence, I shall never forget your face. I should be under the sod now if it was not for you!” Williams. “You rascal, the last time I was here you told me you never were so happy and comfortable.” Prisoner. “Ha! ha! ha! ha! he! he! haw! haw! ho! I ask your pardon for laughing, sir; but you are so precious green. Why, if I had told you the truth then I shouldn't be alive to talk to you now.” “What, I should have murdered you, should I!” said Mr. Hawes, with a lofty sneer. “Why you know you would, sir,” replied the prisoner firmly and respectfully, looking him full in the face before them all. Mr. Lacy. “You don't think so, or you would not take these liberties with him now.” The prisoner cast a look of pity on Mr. Lacy. “Well, you _are_ green--what, can't you see that I am going out to-day? Do you think I'd be such a cully as to tell a pack of greenhorns like you the truth before a sharp hand like our governor, if I was in his power; no, my term of imprisonment expired at twelve o'clock to-day.” “Then why are you here?” “I'll tell you, sir. Our governor always detains a prisoner for hours after the law sets him free. So then the poor fellow has not time to get back to his friends, so then he sleeps in the town, ten to one at a public-house; gets a glass, gets into bad company, and in a month or two comes back here. That is the move, sir. Bless you, they are so fond of us they don't like to part with us for good and all.” Mr. Lacy. “I do not for a moment believe, Mr. Hawes, that you have foreseen these consequences, but the detention of this man after twelve o'clock is clearly illegal, and you must liberate him on the instant.”