After exchanging a few whispers with Jack, Di returned to her former position under the oak, and, taking up her pen and paper, proceeded to note the articles of the treaty. They were soon ready.
“These terms,” said Jack, taking the paper from Di, “are far too lenient, but let me state at once, that no interruption on the part of the public will be allowed to interfere with the course of justice.” Then, clearing his throat, he began, “Prisoner on the ground, the chief end and aim in administering justice being the restoration of peace to the public, we do here invite you to return to your former position in our midst, as a free and law-abiding citizen, on the following conditions. That you shall, in the first place, repeat after me, in such words as I shall dictate, a full apology to Hubert, for the dastardly assault upon his person, whereby you sought to do him grievous bodily harm; and, in the second place, that you shall, in a clear voice, and with due emphasis, rehearse after Diana the said Diana’s spirited verses, setting forth your evil deeds, the audience assisting you at the close of each separate verse with a repetition of the chorus. Prisoner on the ground, give tongue, do you accept our terms, yea or nay?”
“Get off, will you,” cried Andrew, who was perilously near tears. “Faith, they’re suffocating me.”
“Oh! Jack,” interposed Faith, “do leave him alone, you will hurt—”
“My dear Faith, his well-being is in no one’s hands but his own,” said Jack, emphasizing this statement with a rapid rise and fall of his person on the unfortunate Andrew’s chest, “what’s simpler? he has only to accept our terms, and then he rises a free man.”
“Fa-a-ith, I’m suf-fo-cating,” gasped the culprit.
“Oh! please, please,” besought Marygold, with clasped hands, and terror in her face, “do let him go now.”
“You say,” began Jack, “that—”
“I’ll say I’m sorry,” gasped Andrew, “on condit—”
“No, no conditions,” broke in Jack, “you must—”