ple do their duty. Therefore, in having
spared you much, I can only feel that I have helped you little.
Gentlemen of the Jury, the matter having got thoroughly into your
heads, is now in your hands. I therefore leave it there."

Here the Learned Judge ceased speaking. The Learned Judge having
refreshed himself after this amazing forensic effort with a draught
from the glass of water beside him, which, during the proceedings, had
become lukewarm, gathered his robes about him and hopped through the
folding doors at the back of him, into his private room.

The Jury, looking like men suddenly out of work, repaired in a body to
their room, and once again the overcrowded and overheated Court gave
itself over to the buzz and hum of conversation, freely interspersed
with endless speculations as to what sort of verdict could possibly be
returned in such an amazing case.

The Right Worshipful warmly thanked his Counsel, Mr. Gentle Gammon, for
the brilliant efforts that gentleman had made upon his behalf, whilst
Mr. Dreadful, K.C., glared unspeakable things in the direction of the
Plaintiff and Plaintiff's Counsel alternately, for the entire case had
filled Mr. Dreadful, K.C., with feelings of revolt.

Juniors not engaged on the case made whispered and sporting bets among
themselves as to who would get the verdict. The amber light
illuminating the Court continued to gleam upon the Pleasant-Faced Lion,
unquestionably the most reposeful thing inside the building, although
the primary cause of all the disturbance.

"Of course," observed Ridgwell to the Writer, "we shall know now who
has won the game."

The Writer agreed.

"Will the old gentleman in the red robe call out the forfeits then?"

"Rather," replied the Writer, "and I fancy, myself, the heaviest
forfeit will be the one which includes bringing Lal into Court; it must
have really cost a very considerable sum. Hullo, they are all coming
back," broke off the Writer, "all the Jury, looking as if they have
lost their way, which I believe, myself, they have, during the entire
case. There, they are summoning his Lordship. Now for it."

Upon his Lordship resuming his seat, the foreman of the Jury delivered
himself thus, upon behalf of himself and his other eleven brethren.

"The Jury had all tasted and partaken of the Creme-de-Menthe" (bottle
produced and the contents seen to be very considerably diminished),
"and they found that the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor