In a land where a lower code of ethics and of honor exists, the insult
each burned to cast upon the other would have been uttered; and the
result would have been a so-called "affair of honor," in which both men
would have run the risk of bringing blood-guiltiness upon their souls,
and the stigma of murder upon their honorable names. The struggle in
Galbraith’s breast was short, and human intelligence triumphed over
brute instinct. His few words of apology were spoken with cold
courtesy, and accepted with quiet dignity. The men did not shake hands;
each understood the position too clearly for that. They could never be
friends; but, as they were honorable gentlemen, all enmity was at end
between them, for rivalry does not necessarily entail hatred. Then they
spoke of the trial, and their conversation lasted until the hour of the
opening of the court.
Millicent, escorted by Henry Deering, arrived at the court just as
Graham and Galbraith entered the room together. She saw Graham whisper
something to the lawyer, who bowed courteously in answer. The
significance of the action was not lost upon her,--her revelation had
not been made in vain. She now heard her name called in a loud, harsh
voice. She started violently, but did not stir from her seat.
"Come," said Hal, "you must go up to that little platform and answer all
the questions they ask you."
She walked quietly to the place indicated, took the customary oath "to
speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," and
answered the preliminary questions in a low voice.
"What is your name?"
"Millicent Almsford."
"Where were you born?"
"In Venice."
"What state?"
"In Italy."
"How old are you?"
"One and twenty."
"You were present at the killing of Ah Lam, at Carey’s Bridge?"
"I was."
"Tell the court all that you saw on that occasion." Galbraith was the
speaker. He knew that Millicent’s natural eloquence would give the
story with more force if she were allowed to tell it in her own way
without the usual questioning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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