Yes, replied the prince feircely, you and your fellow-prisoners have
endeavoured to insinuate yourselves into the favour of persons whom you
imagined entrusted with the secrets of the government: - being prisoners
of war, you formed contrivances for your escape, and attempted to
inveigle others to accompany your flight.
That every tittle of this accusation is false, my lord, cried Horatio,
there needs no more than the improbability of it to prove. - Indeed the
cruel usage we sustained, might have justified an attempt to free
ourselves, yet did such a design never enter our heads: - we were so far
from making use of any stratagems for that purpose, that we never made
the least overture to any of the guards, who were the only persons we
were allowed to converse with.
How! said the prince interrupting him, were not your privileges enlarged
by the interposition of a lady? - Did she not make you considerable
allowances out of her own purse, and frequently visit you to receive
your thanks? - And were you not emboldened by these favours to urge her
to reveal what secrets were in her knowledge, and even to assist you in
your escape? - You doubtless imagined you could prevail on her also to go
with you:
