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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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61 not rise to our summons. In effect, tho’, as it seems to me, the point you make is hardly material. Quite aside from any conceivable motive actuating the Master-at- arms, and irrespective of the provocation to the blow, a martial court must needs in the present case confine its attention to the blow’s consequence, which consequence justly is to be deemed not otherwise than as the striker’s deed.” This utterance, the full significance of which it was not at all likely that Billy took in, nevertheless caused him to turn a wistful interrogative look toward the speaker, a look in its dumb expressiveness not unlike that which a dog of generous breed might turn upon his master seeking in his face some elucidation of a previous gesture ambiguous to the canine intelligence. Nor was the same utterance without marked effect upon the three officers, more especially the soldier. Couched in it seemed to them a meaning unanticipated, involving a prejudgement on the speaker’s part. It served to augment a mental disturbance previously evident enough. The soldier once more spoke; in a tone of suggestive dubiety addressing at once his associates and Captain Vere: “Nobody is present-none of the ship’s company, I mean-who might shed lateral light, if any is to be had, upon what remains mysterious in this matter.” “That is thoughtfully put,” said Captain Vere; “I see your drift. Ay, there is a mystery; but, to use a Scriptural phrase, it is ‘a mystery of iniquity,’ a matter for psychologic theologians to discuss. But what has a military court to do with it? Not to add that for us any possible investigation of it is cut off by the lasting tongue-tie of-him-in yonder,” again designating the mortuary stateroom. “The prisoner’s deed,- with that alone we have to do.” To this, and particularly the closing reiteration, the marine soldier knowing not how aptly to reply, sadly abstained from saying aught. The First Lieutenant who at the outset had not unnaturally assumed primacy in the court, now overrulingly instructed by a glance from Captain Vere, a glance more effective than words, resumed that primacy. Turning to the prisoner, “Budd,” he said, and scarce in equable tones, “Budd, if you have aught further to say for yourself, say it now.” Upon this the young sailor turned another quick glance toward Captain Vere; then, as taking a hint from that aspect, a hint confirming his own instinct that silence was now best, replied to the Lieutenant, “I have said all, Sir.” The marine-the same who had been the sentinel without the cabin- door at the time that the Foretopman followed by the Master-at- arms, entered it-he, standing by the sailor throughout these judicial proceedings, was now directed to take him |
