I would think this of little account, the more so as we cannot catch our man.

But the matter of Breck's innocence shoots beyond itself.

Once admitted, it would destroy the whole presumptions of our case against another and a very different criminal; a man grown old in treason, already twice in arms against his king and already twice forgiven; a fomenter of discontent, and (whoever may have fired the shot) the unmistakable original of the deed in question.

I need not tell you that I mean James Stewart." "And I can just say plainly that the innocence of Alan and of James is what I am here to declare in private to your lordship, and what I am prepared to establish at the trial by my testimony," said I.
"To which I can only answer by an equal plainness, Mr.Balfour," said he, "that (in that case) your testimony will not be called by me, and I desire you to withhold it altogether." "You are at the head of Justice in this country," I cried, "and you propose to me a crime!" "I am a man nursing with both hands the interests of this country," he replied, "and I press on you a political necessity.

Patriotism is not always moral in the formal sense.