hers."]

Many other illustrations, still more pertinent to the case in point, his
erudition supplied from the stores of history. But on seeing that
Lenny did not seem in the slightest degree consoled by these memorable
examples, he shifted his ground, and reducing his logic to the strict
argumentum ad rem, began to prove, first, that there was no disgrace
at all in Lenny's present position, that every equitable person
would recognize the tyranny of Stirn and the innocence of its victim;
secondly, that if even here he were mistaken, for public opinion was
not always righteous, what was public opinion after all?--"A breath, a
puff," cried Dr. Riccabocca, "a thing without matter,--without length,
breadth, or substance,--a shadow, a goblin of our own creating. A man's
own conscience is his sole tribunal, and he should care no more for that
phantom 'opinion' than he should fear meeting a ghost if he crossed the
churchyard at dark."

Now, as Lenny did very much fear meeting a ghost if he crossed the
churchyard at dark, the simile spoiled the argument, and he shook his
head very mournfully. Dr. Riccabocca, was about to enter into a third
course of reasoning, which, had it come to an end, would doubtless have
settled the matter, and reconciled Lenny to sitting in the stocks till
doomsday, when the captive, with the quick ear and eye of terror and
calamity, became conscious that church was over, that the congregation
in a few seconds more would be flocking thitherwards. He saw visionary
hats and bonnets through the trees, which Riccabocca saw not, despite
all the excellence of his spectacles; heard phantasmal rustlings and
murmurings which Riccabocca heard not, despite all that theoretical
experience in plots, stratagems, and treasons, which should have made
the Italian's ear as fine as a conspirator's or a mole's. And with
another violent but vain effort at escape, the prisoner exclaimed,--

"Oh, if I could but get out before they come! Let me out, let me out!
Oh, kind sir, have pity,--let me out!"

"Diavolo!" said the philosopher, startled, "I wonder that I never
thought of that before. After all, I believe he has hit the right nail
on the head," and, looking close, he perceived that though the partition
of wood had hitched firmly into a sort of spring-clasp, which defied
Lenny's unaided struggles, still it was not locked (for, indeed, the
padlock and key were snug in the justice-room of the squire, who never
dreamed that