Frank Wentworth, facing
instantly to his natural enemy. "I have suspected from the beginning
of this business who was the culprit, and have made every possible
attempt to induce him to confess, and, so far as he could, amend the
wrong that he had done. I have failed; and now the confession, the
_amende_, must be made in public. I will now call my witness," said
the Curate. But this time a commotion rose in another part of the
room. It was Wodehouse, who struggled to rise, and to get free from
the detaining grasp of his companion.

"By Jove! I aint going to sit here and listen to a parcel of lies!"
cried the vagabond. "If I am to be tried, at least I'll have the real
thing, by Jove!" He had risen up, and was endeavouring to pass Mr
Waters and get out, casting a suspicious defiant look round the room.
The noise he made turned all eyes upon him, and the scrutiny he had
brought upon himself redoubled his anxiety to get away. "I'll not
stand it, by Jove! Waters, let me go," said the craven, whose confused
imagination had mixed up all his evil doings together, and who already
felt himself being carried off to prison. It was at this moment that
Jack Wentworth rose from his place in his easy careless way, and went
forward to the table to adjust the lamp, which was flaring a little.
Wodehouse dropped back into a chair as soon as he caught the eye of
this master of his fate. His big beard moved with a subterranean gasp
like the panting of a hunted creature, and all the colour that had
remained died away out of his haggard, frightened face. As for Jack
Wentworth, he took no apparent notice of the shabby rascal whom he
held in awe. "Rather warm this room for a court of justice. I hope
Frank's witness is not fat," said Jack, putting himself up against the
wall, and lifting languidly his glass to his eye--which byplay was
somewhat startling, but totally incomprehensible, to the amateur
judges, who looked upon him with angry eyes.

"I must request that the proceedings may not be interrupted," said Mr
Morgan; and then everybody looked towards the open door: the sight they
saw there was enough to startle the calmest spectator. Elsworthy, who
was seated close by, sprang from his stool with a low resounding howl of
amazement, upsetting his lowly seat, and staggering back against the
wall, in the excess of his wonder and consternation. The judges
themselves forgot their decorum, and crowded round upon each other to
stare--old Mr Western