"I remember it perfectly, my lord. I had the honour of entertaining
Sir Terence upon that subject on the occasion of my last visit here."

"Quite so," said his lordship. "And on the grounds of political
expediency you made a bargain then with Sir Terence, I understand,
a bargain which entailed the perpetration of an injustice."

"I am not aware of it, my lord."

"Then let me refresh your Excellency's memory upon the facts. To
appease the Council of Regency, or rather to enable me to have my
way with the Council and remove the Principal Souza, you stipulated
for the assurance - so that you might lay it before your Council
- that the offending officer should be shot when taken."

"I could not help myself in the matter, and - "

"A moment, sir. That is not the way of British justice, and Sir
Terence was wrong to have permitted himself to consent; though I
profoundly appreciate the loyalty to me, the earnest desire to
assist me, which led him into an act the cost of which to himself
your Excellency can hardly appreciate. But the wrong lay in that
by virtue of this bargain a British officer was prejudged. He
was to be made a scapegoat. He was to be sent to his death when
taken, as a peace-offering to the people, demanded by the Council
of Regency.

"Since all this happened I have had the facts of the case placed
before me. I will go so far as to tell you, sir, that the officer