"You asked me had I anything to say for myself," said Diggle quietly. "Assuredly; but it seems your honours 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 defence 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." Clive frowned, and, drumming upon the divan impatiently with his fingers, seemed for the moment to be lost in thought. Then he said: "Yes, Mr. Watson, I think you are right." "Take the prisoner back to your ship," said the Admiral, "and put him under double guard. Thank you, Mr. Burke; we shall require your evidence in Bombay. One word before you go. I am vastly indebted to you for your services; you have been of the greatest use to myself and my captains. Your name will frequently appear in our ships’ logs, and I shall take care to show your work in the proper light when I make my report. Meanwhile, when the division of prize-money is made, you will receive a lieutenant’s share. Good-night, sir." And Desmond’s face, as he left the room, bore a flush of happiness and pride. CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH *In which the scene changes; the dramatis personæ remaining the same.* A few days after the capture, the _Tyger_ left Gheria, having on board the men wounded in the attack and the European prisoners who had been rescued. Desmond also sailed in her, with an official report from Admiral Watson to Governor Bourchier.