‘I, Mercia, the Astronomer, must leave this Court with my name pure, unsullied, and honourable; or hide my head in shame for ever.’
‘Long live Mercia! Long live Mercia!’ resounded in mighty force throughout that great Hall. The whole multitude was with her in one intense wave of sympathy; for she had given utterance to their own feeling. They desired to bottom the whole business, and place their beloved Astronomer on the proud pedestal she had formerly occupied.
Besides, the Englishman’s love of justice was another factor in the case, and no matter what the issue, they desired to see fair play throughout.
Swami looked radiant with happiness as he pressed towards her side eager to render her whatever trifling service possible at such a moment.
Geometrus wore a serious and downcast aspect, as if he believed that nothing would go right. Sadbag sitting near him, with a mysterious parcel by his side, seemed the picture of suppressed satisfaction.
When everybody had quieted down Mercia’s counsel got upon his legs, and requested that the Public Prosecutor should state his case, to which demand the Judges agreed. Thereupon, the Emperor’s counsel made his charge according to the manner in which he had been instructed, but having no witnesses to produce, save Prince Osbert, who averred he saw nothing, from which testimony no amount of questioning could make him depart, the Defence was commenced without delay.
Rising to his feet Mercia’s counsel proceeded with his speech.
‘To-day I am placed in a position as painful to me as a subject, as it is unique in the annals of a Law Court. Painful, insomuch as it is necessary for the ends of justice that I shall have to accuse my Sovereign of conduct so base that the meanest subject of his Realms would blush to be found guilty of the like.
‘I am in a position to show that the Emperor’s visits to his Astronomer were not made either in the interests of science, or those of his subjects: no such justifiable, or worthy motives prompted his course of action. On the contrary, these interviews were made with the intention of corrupting her pure mind, and of guiling her away from her duty.
‘By his artful insinuations he endeavoured to gradually lead her on to disregard her vows of abstention from Love, or Marriage, with a view of paving the way for his own purposes. He dwelt upon the folly of continuing a course of asceticism, whose only effect would be ultimately, a serious injury to her health and happiness; and she in the perfect innocence of her pure mind, accepted it at the moment, as a piece of fatherly advice that should not be disregarded.