The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-01
DAVID BALFOUR.
NJ ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
Part IL.
copyright. 1892. by Robert Louis Stew enson.l
CHAPTER IV.-CoscLUpgD.

itDpyElEIts ict<s Oy fsDOcft iSouks otcS cHsVA.f
CHAPTER Iy.-CoscLUpED.
At this be rose from the chair, lit sec
ond candle, and for while gazed upon me
steadily. / was surprised to see great
change Of gravity fallen upon his face. and
I could have almost thought he was
little pale.
''You are either very simple, or ex-
tremely the reverse, and see that ] must
deal with you more contidentialIy," says
he, This is political case--ah, yes, Mr..
Balfour, whether we like it or no, the case
is political, and ] tremble when l think
what issues may depend from it. To a
political case, / need scarce tell young
man OF your education, We approach with
very different thou ghts from one which is
criminal only. Saips poput snprema Ter is
maxim susceptible of great abuse, but il
has that force which we find elsewhere
only in the laws of nature; ] mean it has
the force of necessity. will open this out
to you, if you will allow me, at more
length. You would have me believe"
"Under your pardon, my lord, would
have you to believe nothing but that
which l can prove, said L.
Tut tut young gentleman" said he,
-he not so pragmatical, and suffer a man
ing more) to employ his own imperfect
language and express his own poor
thoughts, even when they have the mis-
fortune not to coincide with Mr.. Balfour's.
You would have me to believe Breck in
nocent / would think this Of little &C
count, the more so as We cannot catch our
man. But the matter of Breck's limo
cence shoots beyond itself. Once admit
ted, II would destroy the whole presump-
tons of our case against another and q
very different criminal; q man grown old
in treason, already twice in arms against
his king. and already twice forgiven; a
fomenter of discomfort. and (whoever
may have fred the shot) the unmistakable
original Of the deed in question. l need
not tell you that mean James Stewart"
"And can Just say plainly that the in
nocence Of Alan and Of James is what
am hero to declare in private to your lord
ship and what am prepared to establish
at the trial BY my testimony" said 1.
''To which can only answer by equal
piainness, Mr.. Balfour," said he. "that
I'm that case) your testimony will not be
called by me. and desire you to withhold
it altogether"
"You are at the hand Of Justice in this
country" cried, and you propose to
me q crimer'
II am man nursing with both hands
the interests Of this country" he replied,
land press on you political necessity.
Patriotism Is not always moral in the
formal sense. You might be glad of it,
think; it is your own protection; the facts
are heavy against you and, if l am still
trying to except from a very dangerous
place. it is in part of course because / am
not insensible to your honesty in coming
here. in part because of Pilrig's letter, but
In part, and in chief part, because I re-
gard n this matter my political duty first
and my judicial duty only second. For
the same reasou-i repeat it TO you in the
same frank words-I do not want your
testimony"
II desire not to be thought TO make a
repartee when l express only the plain
sense of our position" said |. But il
YOUR lordship has no need OF my testi-
mony / believe the other side would be ex-
treme.y blythe to get II.
Prestongrange arose and began to pace
to and fro in the room. You are not SO
Young" he said. but what you must re-
member very clearly the year 40 and the
shock that went about the country.
read in PlTig's letter that you are sound
in Kirk and State. Who saved them in thai
fatal year? | do not refer To his roval
highness and his ramrods, which were
extremely useful in their day, but the
country had been saved and the field won
before ever Cumberland came upon Drum
mossie Who saved lt2 | repeat: who
saved the Protestant religion and the
whole frame OF our civil institutions? Tho
late Lord President Culohen, tor one: ne
played A mans part, and small thanks he
got for it-even ~ |, whom you see before
you, strasnnc every nerve in the same
service, look for no reward heyond the
conscience OF my duties done. After
the president Who eise2 You know
the answer "a we'll rs ] do; tbs
partly scandal. and you glanced at II
Yourself and I removed You tor IL when
YOU trst came n. 1t Was the duke and The
great clan 81 Campbell. Now here is a
Campbei. fouily murdered, ami that in
the kings service. The duke and | are
Hxhlanders. But Ne are Hirhlanders
civilized, and II IS not so with the great
mass OF our clans and families They
have still savage virtues and defects. They
are still hsrbarians, like these Stewards:
only the Campbeils were barharians on the
right side, anu the Stewarts were barbara.
ans on the wrong Now be You the nudge
The Campbells expect vengeance. Ii ;heg
do not set lift this man James escape :
there viii be trouble with the Campbe,is
That means disturbance in the highlands.
which ara uneasy aud very far from being
disarmed. The disarnlins is farce"
IL can bear you out IN thatf said |.
disturbance IN tue Ii EnsanCs nl3Aes he
hour of our old watchful enemy" pursued
has lordship, holding out q finger As he
paced; and / give you NV word We may
have a rs again, with the CampDells on
the other side. To protect the life of TIL:
man Siewart-which Is forfeit already or
half e dozen different counts. # no. on
this--do You propose 10 plunge your coun
try in war. 10 jeopardi2e the faith of youi
fathers and tn expose the nses and for
tunes OF how many thousand innocent
persons7 These are considerations thai
weigh with me, and that hope will weig
10 less with yourself, Mr.. Balfour, As i
lover Of your country. good government
and religious truth"
You deal win me very frankly. and
thank Won tor It" sad |. Il Wi! try on
my side 10 he no less honest i believe
yoar policy to he sound. i believe theSe
deep duties mSv lie upon your lcrdshlp;
believe YOU may have ia}d them on your
conscience hen you TOOK tne caths ot the
hIsa office watch you mold. Bat Tor me
"a 40 am Just plSin man or scarce man
,eI-iAe plain dusles must suffice. Gar