He was at least six feet two
in height, and such as I have described him; there he stood, with his
hands grasping the rail before him and looking intently at a wigless
lawyer who was opening the accusation, while he had one ear turned a
little towards the sworn interpreter of the court, whose province it
was, at every pause, to explain to the prisoners what the learned
gentleman was stating. From time to time he said a word or two to a
square--built, dark, ferocious--looking man standing next him,
apparently about forty years of age, who, as well as his fellow
prisoners, appeared to pay him great respect; and I could notice the
expression of their countenances change as his rose or fell.
The indictment had been read before I came in, and, as already
mentioned, the lawyer was proceeding with his accusatory speech, and, as
it appeared to me, the young Spaniard had some difficulty in
understanding the interpreter's explanation. Whenever he saw me, he
exclaimed, "Ah! aqui viene, el Senor Teniente--ahora sabremos ahora,
ahora;" and he beckoned to me to draw near. I did so.
"I beg pardon, Mr Cringle," he said in Spanish, with the ease and grace
of a nobleman "but I believe the interpreter to be incapable, and I am
certain that what I say is not fittingly explained to the judges;
neither do I believe he can give me a sound notion of what the advocate
(avocado) is alleging against us. May I entreat you to solicit the
bench for permission to take his place? I know you will expect no
apology for the trouble from a man in my situation.
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