BURGOYNE (unruffled). Ah, that is another point of view. My
position does not allow of my going into that, except in private.
But (shrugging his shoulders) of course, Mr. Anderson, if you are
determined to be hanged (Judith flinches), there's nothing more
to be said. An unusual taste! however (with a final shrug)--!

SWINDON (to Burgoyne). Shall we call witnesses?

RICHARD. What need is there of witnesses? If the townspeople here
had listened to me, you would have found the streets barricaded,
the houses loopholed, and the people in arms to hold the town
against you to the last man. But you arrived, unfortunately,
before we had got out of the talking stage; and then it was too
late.

SWINDON (severely). Well, sir, we shall teach you and your
townspeople a lesson they will not forget. Have you anything more
to say?

RICHARD. I think you might have the decency to treat me as a
prisoner of war, and shoot me like a man instead of hanging me
like a dog.

BURGOYNE (sympathetically). Now there, Mr. Anderson, you talk
like a civilian, if you will excuse my saying so. Have you any
idea of the average marksmanship of the army of His Majesty King
George the Third? If we make you up a firing party, what will
happen? Half of them will miss you: the rest will make a mess of
the business and leave you to the provo-marshal's pistol. Whereas
we can hang you in a perfectly workmanlike and agreeable way.