“Let us listen to him about that,” said Curtis, who now bestowed a more marked attention to the course of the proceeding. Vereker was immediately sworn, and his examination began. He detailed with great clearness the circumstances which preceded the fatal event, and the nature of the conversation on the balcony, till he came to that part where the interruption from the street took place. “There,” he said, “I cannot trust my memory as to the words employed by Rutledge, although I am confident as to the phrase used in rejoinder, and equally certain as to the voice of him who uttered it.” “You mean to say,” said the judge, “that you have recognized that voice as belonging to the prisoner.” “I mean to say, my Lord, that were I to hear him utter the same words in an excited tone, I should be able to swear to them.” “That's a lie!” cried Curtis. “These were the words, and that the voice, my Lord,” said Vereker; and as he spoke, a deep murmur of agitated feeling rang through the crowded court. “By Heaven!” cried Curtis, in a tone of passionate excitement, “I hold my life as cheaply as any man; but I cannot see it taken away by the breath of a false witness: let me interrogate this man.” In vain was it that the practised counsel appointed to conduct his case interposed, and entreated of him to be silent. To no purpose did they beg of him to leave in their hands the difficult game of cross-examination. He rejected their advice as haughtily as he had refused their services, and at once addressed himself to the critical task. “With whom had you dined, sir, on the day in question,--the 7th of June?” asked he of Vereker. “I dined with Sir Marcus Hutchinson.” “There was a large party?” “There was.” “Tell us, so far as you remember, the names of the guests.” “Some were strangers to me,--from England, I believe; but of those I knew before, I can call to mind Leonard Fox, Hamilton Gore, John Fortescue, and his brother Edward, Tom Beresford, and poor Rutledge.” “It was a convivial party, and you drank freely?” “Freely, but not to excess.” “You dined at five o'clock?” “At half-after five.” “And rose from table about eleven?” “About that hour.” “There were speeches made and toasts drunk, I believe?” “There were,--a few.” “The toasts and the speeches were of an eminently loyal character; they all redounded to the honor and credit of the Government?” “Highly so.” “And as strikingly did they reflect upon the character of all Irishmen who opposed the ministry, and assumed for themselves the position of patriots. Come, sir, no hesitation; answer my question boldly. Is this not true?” “We certainly did not regard the party you speak of as being true and faithful subjects of the king.” “You thought them rebels?” “Perhaps not exactly rebels.” “You called them rebels; and you yourself prayed that the time was coming when the lamp-iron and the lash should reward their loyalty. Can you deny this?”