tion from the bar, and in addition had been fined £3000 and sentenced to imprisonment for life. Lately he had repeated his offence; and in consequence was now under sentence to lose what remained of his ears, pay a fine of £5000, be branded on both cheeks, and remain in prison for life.
"These be honorable scars," he said, and turned back his gray hair and showed the mutilated stubs of what had once been his ears.
The king's eye burned with passion. He said—
"None believe in me—neither wilt thou. But no matter—within the compass of a month thou shalt be free; and more, the laws that have dishonored thee, and shamed the English name, shall be swept from the statute books. The world is made wrong, kings should go to school to their own laws, at times, and so learn mercy."[1]
- ↑ See Notes to Chapter 27, at end of volume.
