I have not the courage
to ask God to be merciful. But I believe in God. I have tried not to
believe in him. I have denied him all my life. To-day, for the first
time in memory, I can say--and it is with my last breath--I can say
that I thank God for one great act of mercy. He has permitted me to
live long enough, with this bullet in me, to say to the world that my
nephew, David Jenison, is as innocent as I am guilty."
"Well," said Grinaldi the clown, his voice doleful in contrast to the
cheery smile he assumed, when it came time for all to go to the cook-
tent for dinner, "I dessay we'll 'ave to stop calling you Jack Snipe.
Wot's more, David, you'll be going back to Virginia at once and
settling down to be a genuine gentleman. Afore you think of going, my
lad, let it be fully impressed in your 'eart that we all love you and
we all wish you the greatest 'appiness in the world. You 'ave been a
very poor clown, but I dessay 't is more the fault of your bringing up
than anything else. A clown 'as to be born, David, just the same as
any other genius. I suppose it's too soon yet to talk about your
plans--wot you intend to do fust.
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