“For the reason,” said Gervase, “that a wicked, covetous man has plotted away my life.”
“Why has he done this?”
“It is merely because he would succeed to that to which he is not entitled.”
“He has sworn away your life, you say?”
“Yes, he has himself borne false testimony. And he has suborned others as vile as himself to swear a tissue of lies in order to prove me guilty of a crime of which I am incapable.”
“Who, pray, is this infamous man?”
“He is my uncle, Simon Heriot.”
“And have you no means of disproving this black conspiracy?”
“None, alas. My Uncle Simon has a very cunning and subtle mind. His design has been laid very deep. It is a matter of my unsupported oath against those of specious knaves who are well found in the trade of swearing away men’s lives.”
The play-actor grew silent. Not for a moment could he doubt that Gervase Heriot was innocent of the crime alleged against him.