owned the soft impeachment, and
was called upon to enter the dock, which he did, looking rather
uncomfortable, and as if he half repented his consent to take a part in
the proceedings.

"Now," proceeded Ainger, consulting a paper, "the twelve jurymen are to
go into the box there."

The twelve boys with "Jury" on their papers obeyed. They were a motley
crew, some being Fifth-form boys, some Shell-fish, and some Babies. And
by the odd irony of fate, the one who had drawn the "foreman's" ticket
was Jukes, the Baby.

"Now the witnesses go to the back seats there. You'll find on each the
name you will be called by, and a short note of what your evidence is to
be. You will have to listen very carefully to Barnworth's story, so as
to know exactly what it's all about."

There was a laugh at this. Some thought it a trifle queer that
witnesses should have to learn what their evidence was to be from notes
given them in court and from counsel's speech. But they were young, and
did not know much of law courts.

"Of course you must not show one another your notes," said Ainger; "that
would spoil all."

"Ta-ta," said the baronet rather dismally to his chum; "they call me
Tomkins!"

"The junior counsel for the prosecution, of course, are to sit behind
Barnworth, and for the defence behind Felgate. You must listen
carefully, as you may have to help in the cross-examination. The rest
of the public go to the back; and now we are ready to begin. Usher,
call silence in the court."

Tilbury, whose proud office it was to act in this capacity, shouted,
"Order, there! shut up!" in a loud voice.

Wake, who acted as clerk, read out the name of the case, "Regina
_versus_ Bolts." The jury answered to their names and promised to bring
in a true verdict. The prisoner was called upon to plead guilty or not
guilty, and answered, "Not guilty"; and then Barnworth rose and opened
the case for the prosecution.

"My lord, and gentlemen of the jury," he began; "the prisoner at the bar
is charged with the wilful murder of John Smith, on the night of
Tuesday, February 4."

This was interesting, for Tuesday, February 4, was the date of the
Bickers affair.

"I shall, as briefly as possible, narrate the circumstances of this
unfortunate affair. The prisoner, Thomas Bolts, is a workman in the
employ of a large firm of engineers in this neighbourhood, in which the
murdered man was also engaged as a foreman and overseer. It is
unneces