But in Mars the prerogative of mercy, in the proper sense of the word--judicial rather than political mercy--is exercised less by the Prince himself than by a small council of judges advising him and pronouncing their decision in his name.
Even if we could have relied on the Campta with absolute confidence, there were many reasons against an appeal which would, in fact, have asked him to declare himself on our side.

While such a declaration might, in the existing state of public feeling, have caused revolt or riot, it would have put on their guard, perhaps driven to a premature attempt which he was not prepared to meet, the traitors whose scheme against his life the Prince felt confident that he should speedily detect and punish.
All these considerations were brought before our Council, whose debate was brief but not hurried or excited.

The supreme calm of Esmo's demeanour communicated itself to all the eleven, in not one of whom could I recognise till they spoke my colleagues of our last Council.
The order went forth that a party should attend Esmo's orders at a point about half a mile distant from the studio in which, for the benefit of a great medical school, my unhappy friend was to be put to torture indescribable.
"Happily," said Esmo, "the first portion of the experiment will be made by the Vivisector-General alone, and will commence at midnight.
Half an hour before that time our party will be assembled." I had insisted on being one of the band, and Esmo had very reluctantly yielded to the unanimous approval of colleagues who thought that on this occasion physical strength might render essential service at some unforeseen crisis.

Moreover, the place lying within my geographical province, several of those engaged looked up to me as their immediate chief, and it was thought well to place me on such an occasion at their head.
The night was, as had been predicted, absolutely dark, but the roads were brilliantly lighted.

Suddenly, however, as we drew towards the point of meeting, the lights went out, an accident unprecedented in Martial administration.
"But they will be relighted!" said one of my companions.
"Can human skill relight the lamps that the power of the Star has extinguished ?" was the reply of another.
We fell in military order, with perfect discipline and steadiness, under the influence of Esmo's silent will and scarcely discernible gestures.