madam. Do you mean that this gentleman is not your
husband, or merely--I wish to put this with all delicacy--that you are
not his wife?

JUDITH. I don't know what you mean. I say that he is not my
husband--that my husband has escaped. This man took his place to save
him. Ask anyone in the town--send out into the street for the first
person you find there, and bring him in as a witness. He will tell you
that the prisoner is not Anthony Anderson.

BURGOYNE (quietly, as before). Sergeant.

SERGEANT. Yes sir.

BURGOYNE. Go out into the street and bring in the first townsman you
see there.

SERGEANT (making for the door). Yes sir.

BURGOYNE (as the sergeant passes). The first clean, sober townsman you
see.

SERGEANT. Yes Sir. (He goes out.)

BURGOYNE. Sit down, Mr. Anderson--if I may call you so for the present.
(Richard sits down.) Sit down, madam, whilst we wait. Give the lady a
newspaper.

RICHARD (indignantly). Shame!

BURGOYNE (keenly, with a half smile). If you are not her husband, sir,
the case is not a serious one--for her. (Richard bites his lip
silenced.)

JUDITH (to Richard, as she returns to her seat). I couldn't help it.
(He shakes his head. She sits down.)

BURGOYNE. You will understand of course, Mr. Anderson, that you must
not build on this little incident. We are bound to make an example of
somebody.

RICHARD. I quite understand. I suppose there's no use in my explaining.

BURGOYNE. I think we should prefer independent testimony, if you don't
mind.

The sergeant, with a packet of papers in his hand, returns conducting
Christy, who is much scared.

SERGEANT (giving Burgoyne the packet). Dispatches, Sir. Delivered by a
corporal of the 53rd. Dead beat with hard riding, sir.

Burgoyne opens the dispatches, and presently becomes absorbed in them.
They are so serious as to take his attention completely from the court
martial.

SERGEANT (to Christy). Now then. Attention; and take your hat off. (He
posts himself in charge of Christy, who stands on Burgoyne's side of
the court.)

RICHARD (in his usual bullying tone to Christy). Don't be frightened,
you fool: you're only wanted as a witness. They're not going to hang
YOU.

SWINDON. What's your name?

CHRISTY. Christy.

RICHARD (impatiently). Christopher Dudgeon, you blatant idiot. Give
your full name.

SWINDON. Be silent, prisoner. You must not prompt the witness.

RICHARD. Very well. But I warn you you'll get nothing out of him un