of Ussher's death, and Mr. Allewinde's assistant begins to
argue the case. The sub-sheriff and his two clerks are put into the
chair, and have to swear one thing and another. Books are lugged
into court--dirty papers overhauled--thick volumes quoted and
consulted--precedents urged--objections answered--a great deal of
self-confidence shown. At last, after a weary hour's talk, it seems
somehow decided that the sub-sheriff was in the right of it--that
the list is correct, and that the prisoner may be tried. But Mr.
O'Laugher is not in the least chagrined at the victory of his
adversary; one would say, from his countenance, that his only object
had been to delay the business for an hour, and that he triumphed in
his success.

The list is accordingly read over, and the householders of County
Leitrim are summoned to appear and answer to their names under a
penalty of two pounds. A lamentable deficiency, however, is apparent;
one only here and there answers to his name as it is called out in
the sonorous and practised voice of the clerk of the crown. A notice
is then given that they will be again invoked under a penalty of
ten pounds, which, in spite of the fear which pervades the minds of
jurymen that this will be a lock-up affair, entailing a bedless night
and a meagre supper, surreptitiously supplied through the windows
of the court-house, has the desired effect, and Cornelius O'Reilly,
Patrick Tierney, Anthony Reynolds, &c., &c., reply to the call, and
the court becomes sufficiently full of strong, thick-set, comfortable
men.

This is only the long panel. Now the jury has to be formed. To
twenty names the prisoner is entitled to object from caprice, and Mr.
O'Laugher is not the man to give up one of the twenty. Then he can
object to as many more as he chooses, on showing cause, and you may
be sure Mr. O'Laugher has a great many causes to show. One man has
lived near young Macdermot all his life, has been a friend of his,
must have formed an opinion on the case, and is therefore not fit:
another man has been his enemy, and is therefore not fit; a third
man used to drive with Captain Ussher twice a week; a fourth lived
in Mohill; a fifth at Drumsna; a sixth did not live in the county
at all; a seventh had not a house of his own, and so on. Why, it
appeared there was not a proper juror in the county! On all these
objections Mr. O'Laugher was beaten; and as he was beaten on each, he
indefatigably prepared for the next.