The proceedings
began as a matter of course by the prosecutor's smoking a pipe and
drinking coffee with the Governor, who was judge, jury, and
sheriff. I got on very well with him (this was not my first
interview), and he gave me the pipe from his lips in testimony of
his friendship. I recollect, however, that my prime adviser,
thinking me, I suppose, a great deal too shy and retiring in my
manner, entreated me to put up my boots and to soil the Governor's
divan, in order to inspire respect and strike terror. I thought it
would be as well for me to retain the right of respecting myself,
and that it was not quite necessary for a well-received guest to
strike any terror at all.
Our deliberations were assisted by the numerous attendants who
lined the three sides of the room not occupied by the divan. Any
one of these who took it into his head to offer a suggestion would
stand forward and humble himself before the Governor, and then
state his views; every man thus giving counsel was listened to with
some attention.
After a great deal of fruitless planning the Governor directed that
the prisoners should be brought in. I was shocked when they
entered, for I was not prepared to see them come CARRIED into the
room upon the shoulders of others. It had not occurred to me that
their battered feet would be too sore to bear the contact of the
floor. They persisted in asserting their innocence. The Governor
wanted to recur to the torture, but that I prevented, and the men
were carried back to their dungeon.
A scheme was now suggested by one of the attendants which seemed to
me childishly absurd, but it was nevertheless tried. The plan was
to send a man to the prisoners, who was to make them believe that
he had obtained entrance into their dungeon upon some other
pretence, but that he had in reality come to treat with them for
the purchase of the stolen goods. This shallow expedient of course
failed.
The Governor himself had not nominally the power of life and death
over the people in his district, but he could if he chose send them
to Cairo, and have them hanged there. I proposed, therefore, that
the prisoners should be threatened with this fate. The answer of
the Governor made me feel rather ashamed of my effeminate
suggestion. He said that if I wished it he would willingly
threaten them with death, but he also said that if he threatened,
HE SHOULD EXECUTE THE THREAT.
Thinking at last that nothing was to be gained by keeping the
prisoners any longer in confinement, I requested that they might be
set free.
