Part 120 (1/2)

”No, nor any other free and enlightened citizen's, I reckon. Wal, Vespasian and me sat like mice in a snowdrift, and hid our feelings out of good manners, being strangers, till his lords.h.i.+p got e-tarnally fixed about the Captain's pocket-book. Vesp., says I, this hurts my feelings powerful. Says I, this hyar lord did the right thing about my patent: he summed up just: and now he is in an everlasting fix himself: one good turn deserves another, I'll get him out of this fix, any way.” Here the witness was interrupted with a roar of laughter that shook the court.

Even the judge leaned back and chuckled, genially though quietly. And right sorrowful was every Briton there when Saunders closed abruptly the cross-examination of Joshua Fullalove.

His lords.h.i.+p then said he wished to ask Vespasian a question.

Saunders lost patience. ”What, another _amicus curiae,_ my lud! This is unprecedented.”

”Excuse my curiosity, Brother Saunders,” said the judge ironically. ”I wish to trace this L. 14,000 as far as possible. Have you any particular objection to the truth on this head of evidence?”

”No, my lud, I never urge objections when I can't enforce them.”

”Then you are a wise man.” (To Vespasian, after he had been sworn), ”Pray did Captain Dodd tell you what he intended to do with this money?”

”Is, ma.s.sa judge, ma.s.sa captan told dis child he got a branker in some place in de old country, called Barkinton. And he said dis branker bery good branker, much sartiner not to break dan the brank of England. (A howl.) De captan said he take de money to dis yer branker, and den hab no more trouble wid it. Den it off my stomach, de captan say, and dis child heerd him. Yah!”

The plaintiff's case being apparently concluded, the judge retired for a few minutes.

In the buzz that followed, a note was handed to Mr. Compton; _”Skinner!_ On a hot scent. Sure to find him to-day.--_N.B._ He is wanted by another party. There is something curious a-foot.”

Compton wrote on a slip, ”For Heaven's sake, bring him directly. In half an hour it will be too late.”

Green hurried out and nearly ran against Mr. Richard Hardie, who was moodily pacing Westminster Hall at the climax of his own anxiety. To him all turned on Skinner. Five minutes pa.s.sed, ten, fifteen, twenty: all the plaintiff's party had their eyes on the door; but Green did not return; and the judge did. Then to gain a few minutes more, Mr. Colt, instructed by Compton, rose and said with great solemnity, ”We are about to call our last witness: the living have testified to my client's sanity, and now we shall read you the testimony of the dead.”

_Saunders._--That I object to, of course.

_Colt._--Does my learned friend mean to say he objects at random?

_Saunders._--Nothing of the kind. I object on the law of evidence--a matter on which my learned friend seems to be under a hallucination as complete as his client's about that L. 14,000.

_Colt._

--There's none ever feared That the truth should be heard But they whom the truth would indict.

_Saunders._--A court of justice is not the place for old songs; and new law.

_Colt._--Really, my learned friend is the objective case incarnate. (To Compton.--I can't keep this nonsense up for ever. Is Skinner come?) He has a Mania for objection, and with your lords.h.i.+p's permission I'll buy a couple of doctors and lock him up in an asylum as he leaves the court this afternoon. (Laughter.)

_The judge._--A very good plan: then you'll no longer feel the weight of his abilities. I conclude, Mr. Colt, you intend to call a witness who will swear to the deceased person's hand-writing and that it was written in the knowledge Death was at hand.

_Colt._--Certainly, my lord. I can call Miss Julia Dodd.

_Saunders._--That I need not take the trouble of objecting to.

_The judge_ (with some surprise).--No, Mr. Colt. That will never do. You have examined her, and re-examined her.

I need hardly say Mr. Colt knew very well he could not call Julia Dodd.

But he was fighting for seconds now, to get in Skinner. ”Call Edward Dodd.”

Edward was sworn, and asked if he knew the late Jane Hardie.