nutes ensued, when the only sounds in the court were
the whispering tones of Crofts's voice, as he said something into his
counsel's ear. The lawyer rose.

"My task, my lords," said he, "is a short one. Indeed, in all
probability, I need not trouble either your lordships or the jury
with an additional word on a case where the evidence so conclusively
establishes the guilt of the accused, and where attempt to contradict
it has been so abortive. Never, perhaps, was a story narrated within
the walls of a court so full of improbable--might I not almost say
impossible--events, as that of the prisoner."

He then recapitulated, with rapid but accurate detail, the principal
circumstances of my story, bestowing some brief comment on each as he
went. He sneered at the account of the struggle, and turned the whole
description of the contest with Crofts into ridicule,--calling on the
jury to bestow a glance on the manly strength and vigorous proportions
of his client, and then remember the age of his antagonist,--a boy of
fourteen.

"I forgot, gentlemen (I ask your pardon), he confesses to one
ally,--this famous piper. I really did hope that was a name we had done
with forever. I indulged the dream, that among the memories of an
awful period this was never to recur; but unhappily the expectation was
delusive. The fellow is brought once more before us; and perhaps, for
the first time in his long life of iniquity, charged with a crime he did
not commit." In a few sentences he explained that a large reward was at
that very moment offered for the apprehension of Darby, who never would
have ventured under any disguise to approach the capital, much less
trust himself within the walls of a barrack.

"The tissue of wild and inconsistent events which the prisoner has
detailed as following the assault, deserves no attention at my hands.
Where was this house? What was the street? Who was this doctor of which
he speaks? And the sick man, how was he called?"

"I remember his name well; it is the only one I remember among all I
heard," said I, from the dock.

"Let us hear it, then," said the lawyer, half contemptuously.

"Daniel Fortescue was the name he was called by."

Scarcely was the name uttered by me, when Crofts leaned back in his seat
and became pale as death; while, stretching out his hand, he took hold
of the lawyer's gown and drew him towards him. For a second or two he
continued to speak with rapid utterance in the advocate'