y
solemnly; "but the court will uphold its dignity. In the meantime you
are fined half-a-crown."

"But, your worship," whispered Darby, "this is the celebrated Dr. A----,
a very eminent man."

"I have just heard, sir," proceeded Coke, "from the senior officer of
the court, that you are a very eminent man; it may be so, and I am very
sorry for it. I have never heard your name, however, nor a syllable of
your literary reputation, before; but as it seems you are an eminent
man, I take it for granted that it must be in a private and confidential
way among your particular friends. I will fine you, however, another
half-crown for the eminence."

"Well, gentlemen," replied the doctor, "I have heard of many 'wise saws
and modern instances,' but--"

"What do you mean, sir?" said Sir Spigot. "Another insult! You asserted,
sir, already, that Mr. Coke's decision had teeth--"

"But I admitted my error," replied the other.

"And now you mean to insinuate, I suppose, that his worship's saws are
handsaws. You are fined another half-crown, sir, for the handsaw."

"And another," said Coke, "for the _gum arabic_."

The doctor fearing that the fines would increase thick and threefold,
forthwith paid them all, and retired indignantly from the court.

And thus was the author of certainly one of the most beautiful
translations in any language, at least in his own opinion, treated by
these two worthy administrators of the law. (* A fact.)

CHAPTER XXVI. The Priest Returns Sir Thomas's Money and Pistols

--A Bit of Controversy--A New Light Begins to Appear.

Very fortunately for the priest he was not subjected to an examination
before these worthies. Sir Thomas Gourlay, having heard of his arrest
and the cause of it, sent a note with his compliments, to request that
he might be conducted directly to his residence, together with his
pocket-book and pistols, assuring them, at the same time, that their
officers had committed a gross mistake as to his person.

This was quite sufficient, and ere the lapse of twenty minutes Father
M'Mahon, accompanied by Skipton and another officer, found himself at
the baronet's hall-door. On entering the hall, Sir Thomas himself was in
the act of passing from the breakfast parlor to his study above stairs,
leaning upon the arm of Gibson, the footman, looking at the same time
pale, nervous, and unsteady upon his limbs. The moment Skipton saw him,
he started, and exclaimed, as if to himself, bu