Tell me--tell me as a friend! If there is any trouble--"

"Well, Sir Joseph, I could put up with anything from _you_, Sir
Joseph, but I _can't get on with my lady_!"

"My lady be--. O James, what a sinner you make of me! Is that all,
James? Then go down on your knees at once and _thank God my lady is
not your wife_!"

It was a happy thought, and James stayed.

I don't think I have mentioned a curious reason that a jury once gave
for _not_ finding a prisoner guilty, although he had been tried on a
charge of a most terrible murder. The evidence was irresistible to
anybody but a jury, and the case was one of inexcusable brutality. The
man had been tried for the murder of his father and mother, and, as I
said, the evidence was too clear to leave a doubt as to his guilt.

The jury retired to consider their verdict, and were away so long that
the Judge sent for them and asked if there was any point upon which he
could enlighten them. They answered no, and thought they understood
the case perfectly well.

After a great deal of further consideration they brought in a verdict
of "_Not Guilty_."

The Judge was angry at so outrageous a violation of their plain duty,
and did what he ought not to have done--namely, asked the reason they
brought in such a verdict, when they knew the culprit was guilty and
ought to have been hanged.

"That's just it, my lord," said the foreman of this distinguished
body. "I assure you we had no doubt about the prisoner's guilt, but
we _thought there had been deaths enough in the family lately, and so
gave him the benefit of the doubt_!"

There was a young solicitor who had been entrusted with a defence in
a case of murder. It was his first case of importance, and he was,
of course, enthusiastic in his devotion to his client's interests.
Indeed, his enthusiasm rather overstepped his prudence.

By dint of perseverance and persuasion he obtained a promise from a
juror-in-waiting that if he should be on the jury he would consent
to no other verdict than manslaughter, which would be a tremendous
triumph for the young solicitor.

The case was a very strong one for wilful murder. The friendly
juror-in-waiting took his seat in the box. Everything went well except
the evidence, and the solicitor's heart almost failed for fear his man
should give way. The jury for a long time were unable to agree.

Now the young solicitor felt it was his faithful juror who was
standing out.

"All agreed but on