eeten it.

At last came my name; and as I heard it shouted aloud, it almost choked
me with a nervous fulness in the throat. I felt as though I was the
greatest criminal in the universe, and that the whole vast assemblage
had no other object or aim there than to see me arraigned for my
offence.

I was scarcely ordered to advance before I was desired to stand back
again, the prosecutor, Captain De Courcy, not being in court. While a
policeman was, therefore, despatched by the magistrate to request that
he would have the kindness to appear,--for the captain was an honorable
and an aide-de-camp, titles which the sitting justice knew well how to
respect,--other cases were called and disposed of. It was nigh three
o'clock when a great bustle in the outer court and a tremendous falling
back of the dense crowd, accompanied by an ostentatious display of
police zeal, heralded a group of officers, who, with jingling spurs and
banging sabretaches, made their way to the bench, and took their seats
beside the justice. Many were the courtesies interchanged between the
magistrate and the captain: one averring that the delay was not in
the slightest degree inconvenient; the other professing the greatest
deference for the rules of court; neither bestowing a thought upon him
most deeply concerned of all.

A very brief narrative, delivered by the captain with a most military
abruptness, detailed my offence; and, although not exaggerated in the
slightest degree, the occasional interruptions of the magistrate served
very considerably to magnify its guilt,--such as "Dear me! a favorite
mare; a pure Arab; a present from your noble father, Lord Littlemore;
infamous treatment; abominable case; abandoned young scoundrel!" and so
on; closing with the accustomed peroration of regret that, as hanging
was now done away with, he feared that the recorder could only award me
a transportation for life!

"Have you anything to say, sirrah?" said he at last, turning towards me;
"or would you rather reserve your observations for another time? as I
shall certainly commit you for trial at the commission."

"I have only to suggest," said I, with an air of most insolent
composure, "that you are probably mistaken in your law. The offence with
which I stand charged amounts, at most, to the minor one of breach of
trust."

"What! have we got a lawyer in the dock?" said the magistrate, reddening
with fear and anger together.

"I have enjoyed some opportuniti