THE STEADFAST HEART
mother and his own life. I—it seems to me there’s something worth saving in a boy who could do as Angus Burke did…. As I understand it, the law doesn’t punish acts so much as intentions. Criminal intent is indispensable, is it not, to guilt?”
“Perfectly right. Perfectly right. But—” Crane paused impressively—“the jury alone are permitted to pass on a question of fact. It is not for me, not for the judge.”
“But isn’t it within your province to investigate and to find that the facts do not justify prosecution?”
“It is,” said Crane. “But in a matter of this importance I should not take that responsibility. Here is the murder of a high official—”
“Not murder…. Surely you don’t believe a jury would convict the boy?”
“That,” said Wilkins with an increase of dryness in his voice, “is what Crane’s prayin’ over this minute.”
Crane shot the editor a swift glance in which was no little malice. “Duty,” said he in a tone which verged upon resignation, “is not always pleasant…. I fancy the people would insist upon a trial of this boy…. Besides, if I let him go, what would become of him? He’d be a charge on the town.”
38
