with any ill-judged intention of amusing yourself, are like to
prove extremely prejudicial to your safety."

"My purpose in this," I replied, "is just entirely as serious as
life and death, and you have understood me perfectly. I am the boy
who was speaking with Glenure when he was shot."

"I can only suppose (seeing you here) that you claim to be
innocent," said he.

"The inference is clear," I said. "I am a very loyal subject to
King George, but if I had anything to reproach myself with, I would
have had more discretion than to walk into your den."

"I am glad of that," said he. "This horrid crime, Mr. Balfour, is
of a dye which cannot permit any clemency. Blood has been
barbarously shed. It has been shed in direct opposition to his
Majesty and our whole frame of laws, by those who are their known
and public oppugnants. I take a very high sense of this. I will
not deny that I consider the crime as directly personal to his
Majesty."

"And unfortunately, my lord," I added, a little drily, "directly
personal to another great personage who may be nameless."

"If you mean anything by those words, I must tell you I consider
them unfit for a good subject; and were they spoke publicly I
should make it my business to take note of them," said he. "You do
not appear to me to recognise the gravity of your situation, or you
would be more careful not to pejorate the same by words which