He interrupted me.
"Then, if you had been on the jury, you would not have yielded to the opinions of eleven, or of eleven hundred men?"
He spoke eagerly, and I saw that it would be a satisfaction to him to obtain support in his view of the case.
"I am not so sure," I said "our private opinion of a man when he is placed before his country charged with a crime has nothing whatever to do with the evidence brought against him. Let us suppose, for instance, that you have been at some time or other, under more fortunate circumstances, acquainted with Mr. Layton."
"Who asserts that?" he cried, much disturbed.
"No person that I am aware of," I replied. "I am merely putting a case, and I will prove to you presently that I have a reason for doing so. Say, I repeat, that under more fortunate circumstances you were acquainted with Mr. Layton, and that you had grown to esteem him. What has that purely personal view to do with your functions as a juryman?"
"Mr. Bainbridge," he said, "I do not wish to be discourteous, but I cannot continue this conversation."
"Nay," I urged, "a gentleman's life and honor are at stake, and I am endeavoring to befriend him. I am not the only one who is interested in him. There are others, thousands of miles away across the seas, who are desirous and anxious to make a sacrifice, if by that sacrifice they can clear the honor of a friend. See, Mr. Rutland, I will place implicit confidence in you. Last night I received a cable from America, from Mr. Archibald Laing."
"Mr. Archibald Laing!" he cried, taken by surprise. "Why, he and Mr. Layton were--"
But he suddenly stopped, as though fearful of committing himself.