“Tired of being in chains, Your Honor,” said Alvin, “but otherwise in good condition.”

“You ever have any dealings with Satan?”

“I’m not sure who you’re referring to,” said Alvin.

John was surprised. He was expecting a simple “no.” “Satan,” he said. “The enemy of God.”

“Why, if Satan means an enemy of God, I’ve had dealings with a fair number in my time, including Mr. Quill here.”

“Your Honor!” cried Quill.

“Sit down, Mr. Quill,” said John. “Mr. Smith, you seem to be deliberately misunderstanding my question. Don’t try my patience, please. Satan, as generally conceived, is a supernatural being. You’ve been accused of getting powers from him and obeying his commands. Did you get any hidden powers from Satan, or obey him?”

“No sir,” said Alvin.

“More to the point,” said John, “did you ever tell Purity Orphan that you had dealings with Satan, or could she ever have seen you in the presence of Satan?”

“If you mean the bright red fellow with the claws of a bear and cloven hooves and horns on his head,” said Alvin, “I’ve never seen him or heard from him. He’s never even sent me a note. I have smelled him, but only when I was alone with Quill.”

John shook his head. “I don’t think you’re taking this proceeding seriously.”

“No sir,” said Alvin, “I admit that I am not.”

“And why is that? Don’t you understand that your life may hinge upon the outcome of this hearing?”

“It doesn’t,” said Alvin.

Cooper tried to shush him.

“And why do you believe that you’re safe, regardless of the outcome of this hearing?”

Alvin rose to his feet and pulled the manacles off his wrists as easily as he might have pulled off mittens. He shook his feet and the ankle braces clanked on the floor. “Because I got the knack I was born with. As far as I know, it’s God, not Satan, who creates us, and so whatever knack I have came from God. I try to use it kindly and decently. One thing I never do is try to use my knack to force someone else to do something against their will. But you and my lawyer here, you seem determined to force the people of New England to get rid of their witchery laws whether they want to or not. Mr. Quill is a lying snake, but you don’t strike down all the laws just to catch a few liars.”

Verily Cooper rested his head on the desk. John, who was trembling at the sight of such obvious supernatural powers, could see that to Verily Cooper this was old news.

Alvin was still talking. “I was willing to stick it out and see how you two twisted up the laws without actually breaking too many of them, but my wife needs me right now, and I’m not wasting another minute here. When I got time I’ll come back and you and I can talk this out, Your Honor, because I think you’re an honorable man. But for the present, I’ve got somewhere else to be.”