Mr. Eden. “And why not?”
Mr. Hawes. “Simply because he never was starving.”
Prisoner. “Well! I'll tell you, gentlemen. His reverence said to me, 'My poor fellow, you are very ill—I must have you on the sick list directly,' and then he went for the doctor. Now I knew if I got on the sick list they would fill my belly; so I said to myself, best let well alone. If I had told him it was only starvation he would not interfere, I thought.”
Mr. Lacy opened his eyes. Mr. Eden sighed.
Mr. Lacy. “You seem to have a poor opinion of her majesty's officers.”
Prisoner. “Didn't know him, you see—didn't know his character; the humbug that was here before him would have let a poor fellow be kicked into his grave before his eyes, and not hold out a hand to save him.”
Mr. Lacy. “Let me understand you—were you kept without food?”
Prisoner. “I was a day and a half without any food at all.”
Mr. Lacy. “By whose orders?”
Prisoner. “By the governor's there, and I was a week on a twopenny loaf once a day, and kept at hard work on that till I dropped. Ah, your reverence, I shall never forget your face. I should be under the sod now if it was not for you!”