CHAPTER XXXII
"Stapleton!" cries the admiral in astonishment, "what is the meaning of this, may I ask? Or rather," turning towards the fleet-surgeon, who has hung back a little after entering, "perhaps I should address my question to you; why have you brought this officer here?"
"I have an important statement to make," begins Stapleton; but the admiral, ignoring him for the present, listens rather to the fleet-surgeon's explanation:
"It is entirely against my advice that he has come, sir; but the captain urged me to give way on the grounds that this officer's health was not so important as the interests of the Service. So I consented at last, unwillingly, and only on the condition that I myself should accompany the patient."
"Well, well," says the admiral, finding that this explanation does not throw very much light on the affair, "but why has your captain sent the two of you here?"
"This officer insists that he has some very important information to lay before the court, sir," answers the fleet-surgeon; "but before you listen to it, I consider it my duty to tell you that I do not consider that he is at present in such a condition of health as to render his statements entirely reliable."
"Hm!" says the admiral, somewhat nonplussed by all this--"and what may be this important information that you have to give us, Stapleton?"
The tall young officer looks around the room before speaking, and his eyes light upon Norah, who meets his glance without flinching. The effect of this upon himself, however, is unnerving to the last degree; he pales, and turns away his eyes immediately and almost seems as though he would fall but for his steadying himself with his hand on the table behind him.
"Take your time," says the admiral kindly, "I can see that you are not really well enough to come here."
It is a wonder that Stapleton looks distressed, when he is about to denounce the girl he loves--or has loved!
Which is it--loves? or, has loved? As he looks once more towards the beautiful dauntless girl opposite him, he puts this question to himself--and cannot answer it!
But before everything he is fully determined to do his duty.
Still supporting himself with one hand upon the table he stretches out the other at full length and points towards Norah. For a moment or two there is silence; his voice refuses to frame the words that must be spoken. All present in the room look wonderingly at this gaunt and silent figure in the attitude of an accuser.
Then he finds speech, and in a hollow and unnatural voice declares,
"I denounce that woman, and her friends, as the cause of the loss of the _Marathon_!"
To say that there is consternation in the court is putting it mildly. Such a sensation as this is more than the wildest dreamer could have anticipated.
But the consternation is not altogether of a serious nature. Some of the members, indeed, show by their astonished faces that they are greatly impressed by the dramatic denunciation; but the majority of them appear to be rather amused than otherwise--in fact, one of the junior members gives vent to a distinct giggle, which he vainly endeavours to hide away under a very unconvincing cough.
As for the fleet-surgeon, he is the first to speak, and what he says is spoken rather to himself than to the assembled company.
"Oh, he's mad! Quite mad! I knew it--I ought never to have allowed them to override my opinion," he says.
The admiral frowns slightly, and his genial face clouds over. This is a most unfortunate occurrence in every respect; distressing to the young ladies, and bad for Stapleton too. The fleet-surgeon ought never to have brought him here.
But perhaps, after a shocking statement like this, it would be better to allow the patient to commit himself a little further in order to prove clearly that his mind is for the present unhinged and he is not responsible for what he is saying.
So the admiral prompts him.
"Have you any proof, Mr. Stapleton, of this remarkable statement?"
"Yes. She herself made a confession to me." The accusing hand is again lifted towards Norah.
Quite out of his mind, poor fellow! But he must still be humoured.
"What sort of a confession? Tell us."
"It was to this effect, that the whole story of the shipwreck was an invention, a deliberate piece of deception and part of a prearranged plan. She, and her cousin here, and the man--Mr. Sheridan--were all of them engaged in a plot to blow up one of His Majesty's ships."
"What absurd nonsense!" breaks in a voice overcharged with shrill indignation. "I never heard such rubbish in all my life! That man's not in his right mind--anyone can see that! He ought to be in bed!"
"Mrs. Shaw--please!" The admiral once more finds it his duty to try and quiet this very disturbing lady.
But the whole of the court is really in sympathy with her. It is preposterous to outrage decency with these wild accusations.
Only one member amongst the whole court appears to take a different view of the matter. Dimsdale bends forward attentively in his place at the table and looks with searching eyes first upon Stapleton and then upon the girl. But no one takes any notice of him.
"Hadn't you better take him away?" someone says in an undertone to the fleet-surgeon.
Stapleton's ears catch the half-whispered remark. He perceives clearly that he is an atmosphere of unbelief. Unless he can convince his audience, he feels that in another moment he will be dismissed, his action attributed pityingly to the wanderings of a brain-sick man, and his chances of getting a serious hearing gone for ever. He knows that Norah will not keep back the truth, if put to the test. This much faith in her is left with him, the ashes of his dead love--_is_ the love quite dead?
"Ask her!" he cries. Oh, the agony of being forced to make her utter her own condemnation! "Ask her--she will not deny it!"
Norah's eyes again lifted towards him; and there is pride in them. Yes, pride and gratitude that he should have this opinion of her!
The admiral perceives that Stapleton is unlikely to be quieted until this demand is complied with. Well, the sooner this very painful incident is brought to an end the better! So he looks apologetically towards Norah, with the words,
"You have heard what he has said, my dear young lady. I am sorry to distress you needlessly, but perhaps you will be good enough to reply to him. That will set matters right, once and for all."
No answer comes from Norah's lips. She seems to be bracing herself for an effort.
It is Stapleton himself who gives her strength to speak; ignoring the admiral and taking upon himself the part of questioner, he demands,
"Answer the question! Did you or did you not make a confession to me?"
And in strong clear tones comes back the answer, "I did."
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