"They are out of my hands. I positively decline to accept their further
custody."
A messenger appeared with a telegram which the Baron opened and read.
"It's from the commander of the _Sophia Margaret_, who is just leaving
Rio Janeiro for Trieste, and reports his prisoners safe and in good
health."
"It was a happy thought to have him continue his cruise to the Brazilian
coast before returning homeward. By the time he delivers those two
scoundrels to his government their fellow conspirators will have
forgotten they ever lived. But"--and Judge Claiborne shrugged his
shoulders and smiled disingenuously--"as a lawyer I deplore such methods.
Think what a stir would be made in this country if it were known that two
men had been kidnapped in the sovereign state of Virginia and taken out
to sea under convoy of ships carrying our flag for transfer to an
Austrian battle-ship! That's what we get for being a free republic that
can not countenance the extradition of a foreign citizen for a political
offense."
Armitage was not listening. Questions of international law and comity had
no interest for him whatever.
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