Chapter 12

by Herman Melville

　　Lawyers, Experts, ClergyAN EPISODEBy the way, can it be the phenomenon, disowned or at least concealed,that in some criminal cases puzzles the courts? For this cause have ourjuries at times not only to endure the prolonged contentions of lawyerswith their fees, but also the yet more perplexing strife of the medicalexperts with theirs? -- But why leave it to them? Why not subpoena aswell the clerical proficients? Their vocation bringing them intopeculiar contact with so many human beings, and sometimes in their leastguarded hour, in interviews very much more confidential than those ofphysician and patient; this would seem to qualify them to know somethingabout those intricacies involved in the question of moralresponsibility; whether in a given case, say, the crime proceeded frommania in the brain or rabies of the heart. As to any differences amongthemselves these clerical proficients might develop on the stand, thesecould hardly be greater than the direct contradictions exchanged betweenthe remunerated medical experts.Dark sayings are these, some will say. But why? Is it because theysomewhat savor of Holy Writ in its phrase "mysteries of iniquity"? Ifthey do, such savor was far from being intended, for little will itcommend these pages to many a reader of to-day.The point of the present story turning on the hidden nature of theMaster-at-arms has necessitated this chapter. With an added hint or twoin connection with the incident at the mess, the resumed narrative mustbe left to vindicate, as it may, its own credibility.