The orator said--and this time in the tones of business, not of sentiment: "An ye do not know your country's laws, it were time ye learned them.

Ye are strangers to us; ye will not deny that.

Ye may be freemen, we do not deny that; but also ye may be slaves.

The law is clear: it doth not require the claimant to prove ye are slaves, it requireth you to prove ye are not." I said: "Dear sir, give us only time to send to Astolat; or give us only time to send to the Valley of Holiness--" "Peace, good man, these are extraordinary requests, and you may not hope to have them granted.

It would cost much time, and would unwarrantably inconvenience your master--" "_Master_, idiot!" stormed the king.