"I was not intoxicated: I never drank a drop of liquor, wine, or beer in my life," replied Louis very gently.
This reply made a decided sensation among the Spaniards in the court-room, and probably none of them ever saw or heard of a rich young man who had never tasted any intoxicating fluid, for in France and Spain even the boys drink wine.
"Were your companions intoxicated?" inquired the judge.
"Not one of them had tasted a drop of anything for months, if ever in their lives."
The judge glanced at Gray, who had asserted that the party on board of the Salihé had been drinking too freely, and there was a frown on his honor's wrinkled face, which indicated that he believed the present rather than the former witness. Louis proceeded to give his narrative of the proceedings on board of the little steam-yacht, including the capture and the recapture of the craft. The lassoing of the Scotchman greatly amused the Spanish portion of the audience, and all eyes were fixed about half the time on the burly victim of the operation.
The judge requested him to call up the one who had handled the lasso, and Louis asked Scott to stand where he was. The hero of the occasion complied with the request. He saw that the audience were amused and excited; but he could not understand a word that had been said, and did not know what it was all about. He was regarded with astonishment, for the listeners could not comprehend how a mere boy, though a rather stout one, had been able to overcome a man of Gray's size and weight.
The Scotchman seemed to be very much surprised to hear Louis talk Spanish, for the latter had concealed his knowledge of the language from him; and doubtless he could understand now how the "Dutchman" had made some of his points against him in the affair. But Louis was permitted to "stand down," as he had told all he knew of the case. The judge called for Scott next, and evidently felt some interest in him. A sworn interpreter was called, and Scott told his story through him, though Louis and Mr. Gaskette watched him very closely; but there was no important variation in his translation of the witnesses' statements.
Two or three times the judge tripped him up, and it appeared that his honor was quite proficient in his English. The narrative of the "hero" agreed very closely with that of Louis. Morris and Felix fully confirmed them, and then Captain Ringgold was called to the stand. After he had given his name and residence, he was asked a question in regard to his business in Gibraltar.
"I am a shipmaster, in command of the steamship Guardian-Mother, which is the yacht of Mr. Louis Belgrave," he replied, putting his hand on the head of his owner, who sat next to him.
"Does your owner drink too much wine?" asked his honor.