Fairfield then became angry and said “If I did, why would I send for you to tell me? Is this your boasted Irish hospitality, in the exercise of which you lock up every man who happens to be cast away on your shores, and then laugh at him when he asks you a civil question?”
On seeing that Fairfield had really lost his temper, the astonished barrister said “Did you not command the party of armed men who were captured last night in the harbor?”
“I commanded a crew of shipwrecked sailors, as also did my companion in ill-treatment, Captain Westover.”
“Ah! Well of course you can put in that plea if you wish at your trial, but I am afraid it will avail you little. Your arms, too, are of an American pattern, similar to that known to be used by the Fenians.”
“Good Heavens! do they take me for a Fenian?” said Fairfield,—“why, I am an English officer, captain of a merchant vessel of the port of Glasgow.”
“Have you any papers to prove this?” said the lawyer.
“No, they all went down with the vessel, but they can easily find out whether my statements be correct by communicating with the agents.”
“That will be for you to do, when you are brought to trial, which may not be for some time, as there is a surplus of work on hand this session.”
“But can I not demand a trial?”
“No, the Habeas Corpus Act is suspended, and you must just make yourself as comfortable as you can under the circumstances.”