No, sir, these were not my words, cried Archie.
What were yer words, then? asked the Judge.
I believe I said, I denounce it as a murder! said the son. I beg your pardon a God-defying murder. I have no wish to conceal the truth, he added, and looked his father for a moment in the face.
God, it would only need that of it next! cried Hermiston. There was nothing about your gorge rising, then?
That was afterwards, my lord, as I was leaving the Speculative. I said I had been to see the miserable creature hanged, and my gorge rose at it.
Did ye, though? said Hermiston. And I suppose ye knew who haangit him?
I was present at the trial, I ought to tell you that, I ought to explain. I ask your pardon beforehand for any expression that may seem undutiful. The position in which I stand is wretched, said the unhappy hero, now fairly face to face with the business he had chosen. I have been reading some of your cases. I was present while Jopp was tried. It was a hideous business. Father, it was a hideous thing! Grant he was vile, why should you hunt him with a vileness equal to his own? It was done with glee that is the word you did it with glee; and I looked on, God help me! with horror.