"
"Yes, yes, it was when he rescued Edith from the violence of Thorg and
his men. But oh! heaven, how horrible! that he should have been
condemned to death for a noble act! It is incredible--impossible--how
could it have happened? He never expected such a fate--none of us did,
or we would never have consented to his return. There seemed no prospect
of such a thing. How could it have been?"
"There was treachery, and perhaps perjury, too. He had an insidious and
unscrupulous enemy, who assumed the guise of repentance, and candor, and
friendship, the better to lure him into his toils--it was the infamous
Colonel Thorg, who received the command of the regiment, in reward for
his great services in America. And Michael's only powerful friend, who
could and would have saved him--was dead. General Ross, you are aware,
was killed in the battle of Baltimore."
"God have mercy on poor Edith! How long has it been since, this
happened, my dear girl?"
"When they reached Toronto, in Canada West, the regiment commanded by
Thorg was about to sail for England. On its arrival at York, in England,
a court-martial was formed, and Michael was brought to trial. There was
a great deal of personal prejudice, distortion of facts, and even
perjury--in short, he was condemned and sentenced one day and led out
and shot the next!"
There was silence between them then.
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