“You are Lord Granville?”
“I am,” he answered, in a low voice.
“You know the prisoner at the bar?”
“I know Lord Clydesfold,” he responded. “He honors me with his friendship!”
The court thrilled.
“Yes, honors me!” he repeated, looking at Faradeane with mingled affection and indignation. “And I say that to accuse him——”
“You may stand down, my lord,” said Sewell.
“One moment,” interposed the judge’s grave voice. “You have only just arrived in court, Lord Granville?”
“I have, my lord,” said Bertie, eagerly. “I have been abroad”—he looked at Faradeane—“and reached England yesterday, midday. I heard of this—this ridiculous charge against my friend only this morning, a few minutes ago. I know that he is as utterly incapable of committing a crime as——”
He stopped, almost breaking down.