ch cannot be
heard as witnesses,--that they are among those whom the law pronounces
infamous and unworthy of credit; and while the lawyer continued to pour
forth on this topic a perfect ocean of arguments, he was interrupted by
the court, who affirmed the opinion, and concurred in his view of the
case.

"It only remains, then, my lord," said my counsel, "for the Crown to
establish the identity of the individual--"

"Nothing easier," interposed the other.

"I beg pardon; I was about to add,--and produce the record of his
conviction."

This last seemed a felling blow; for although the old lawyer never
evinced here or at any other time the slightest appearance of
discomfiture at any opposition, I could see by the puckering of the
deep lines around his mouth that he felt vexed and annoyed by this new
suggestion.

An eager and animated discussion ensued, in which my advocate was
assisted by the advice of some senior counsel; and again the point was
ruled in my favor, and Darby M'Keown was desired to mount the table.

It required all the efforts of the various officers of the court to
repress another outbreak of mob enthusiasm at the decision; for already
the trial had assumed a feature perfectly distinct from any common
infraction of the law. Its political bearing had long since imparted
a character of party warfare to the whole proceeding; and while Sir
Montague Crofts found his well-wishers among the better dressed and more
respectable persons present, a much more numerous body of supporters
claimed me as their own, and in defiance of all the usages and solemnity
of the place, did not scruple to bestow on me looks and even words of
encouragement at every stage of the trial. Darby's appearance was the
climax of this popular enthusiasm. There were few who had not seen,
or at least heard of, the celebrated piper in times past. His daring
infraction of the law; his reputed skill in evading detection; his
acquaintance with every clew and circumstance of the late rebellion; the
confidence he enjoyed among all the leaders--had made him a hero in a
land where such qualities are certain of obtaining their due estimation.
And now, the reckless effrontery of his presence as a witness in a court
of justice while the sentence of transportation still hung over him, was
a claim to admiration none refused to acknowledge.

His air and demeanor as he took his seat on the table seemed an
acknowledgment of the homage rendered him: fo