“Good sir, what is this man’s offence?”

The officer knelt, and answered —

“So please your Majesty, he hath taken the life of a subject by poison.”

Tom’s compassion for the prisoner, and admiration of him as the daring rescuer of a drowning boy, experienced a most damaging shock.

“The thing was proven upon him?” he asked.

“Most clearly, sire.”

Tom sighed, and said —

“Take him away — he hath earned his death. ’Tis a pity, for he was a brave heart — na — na, I mean he hath the look of it!”