ned the remainder of the
sentence; and although the crier loudly proclaimed silence, and
the bench twice interposed its authority to enforce it, the tumult
continued, and eventually extended within the court itself, where all
semblance of respect seemed suddenly annihilated.

"If this continues one moment longer," exclaimed the chief justice, "I
will commit to Newgate the very first disorderly person I can discover."

The threat, however, did but partially calm the disturbance, which, in
a confused murmur, prevailed from the benches of the counsel to the very
galleries of the court.

"What means this?" said the judge, in a voice of anger. "Who is it that
dares to interfere with the administration of justice here?"

"A witness,--a witness, my lord," called out several voices from the
passage of the court; while a crowd pushed violently forward, and came
struggling onwards till the leading figures were pressed over the inner
bar.

Again the judge repeated his question, while he made a signal for the
officer of the court to approach him.

"'Tis me, my lord," shouted a deep-toned voice from the middle of
the crowd. "Your lordship was asking for Darby M'Keown, and it isn't
himself's ashamed of the name!"

A perfect yell of approval broke from the ragged mob, which now filled
every avenue and passage of the court, and even jammed up the stairs
and the entrance halls. And now, raised upon the shoulders of the crowd,
Darby appeared, borne aloft in triumph; his broad and daring face,
bronzed with sun and weather, glowed with a look of reckless effrontery,
which no awe of the court nor any fear for himself was able to repress.

Of my own sensations while this scene was enacting I need not speak;
and as I gazed at the weather-beaten features of the hardy piper, it
demanded every effort of my reason to believe in the testimony of my
eyesight. Had he come back from death itself the surprise would scarcely
have been greater. Meanwhile the tumult was allayed; and the lawyers on
either side--for, now that a glimmer of hope appeared, my advocate had
entered with spirit on his duties--were discussing the admissibility
of evidence at the present stage of the proceedings. This point being
speedily established in my favor, another and a graver question arose:
how far the testimony of a convicted felon--for such the lawyer at once
called Darby--could be received as evidence.

Cases were quoted and authorities shown to prove that su