"
This unexpected address in open court took me fairly aback, and I
stopped short while in the act of passing the open space in front of the
dock, which was kept clear by six marines in white jackets, whose
muskets, fixed bayonets, and uniform caps, seemed out of place to my
mind in a criminal court. The lawyer suddenly suspended his harangue,
while the judges fixed their eyes on me, and so did the audience,
confound them! To be the focus of so many eyes was trying to my
modesty; for, although unacquainted with bettermost society, still,
below any little manner that I had acquired, there was, and always will
be, an under stratum of bashfulness, or sheepishness, or mauvaise honte,
call it which you will; and the torture, the breaking on the wheel, with
which a man of that temperament perceives the eyes of a whole courthouse,
for instance, attracted to him, none but a bashful man can
understand. At length I summoned courage to speak.
"May it please your honours, this poor fellow, on his own behalf, and on
the part of his fellow--prisoners, complains of the incapacity of the
sworn interpreter, and requests that I may be made the channel of
communication in his stead."
This was a tremendous effort, and once more the whole blood of my body
rushed to my cheeks and forehead, and I "sweat extremely." The judges,
he of the black robe and those of the epaulet, communed together.
"Have you any objection to be sworn, Mr Cringle?"
"None in the least, provided the court considers me competent, and the
accused are willing to trust to me.
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