well, like other rectors, and the Squire like
other squires.

* * * * *

It was a quarter to twelve before the ladies' claims were adjusted. They
were both admonished in a paternal kind of way, and sent about their
business, since there was disputed evidence as to whether or not the
lady with the bandage had provoked the attack, not only by her language,
but by throwing a banana-skin at the lady without the bandage. They were
well talked to, their husbands were bidden to keep them in order, and
they departed, both a little crestfallen, to discuss the whole matter
over a pint of beer.

There was a little shifting about in court; a policeman, looking
curiously human without his helmet, pushed forward from the door and
took his place by the little barrier. The magistrates and the clerk and
the inspector all conferred a little together, and after an order or
two, the door near the back of the court leading from the police-cells
opened, and Frank stepped forward into the dock, followed by another
policeman who clicked the barrier behind the prisoner and stood,
waiting, like Rhadamanthus. Through the hedge of the front row of the
crowd peered the faces of Gertie and the Major.

We need not bother with the preliminaries--in fact, I forget how they
ran--Frank gave his name of Frank Gregory, his age as twenty-two years,
his occupation as casual laborer, and his domicile as no fixed abode.

The charge was read to him. It was to the effect that he, on the night
of Tuesday, the twenty-third instant, had in the village (whose name I
choose to forget, if I ever knew it), seized from Maggie Cooper, aged
nine years, a tin of preserved salmon, with intent to steal. The
question put to the prisoner was: Did he or did he not plead guilty?

"I plead guilty, sir," said Frank, without a tremor.

He had been two full days in the cells by now, and it had not improved
his appearance. He was still deeply sunburned, but he was a little pale
under the eyes, and he was unshaven. He had also deliberately rumpled
his hair and pulled his clothes to make them look as untidy as possible.
He answered in a low voice, so as to attract as little attention as
possible. He had given one quick look at the magistrates as he came in,
to make sure he had never met them out shooting or at dinner-parties,
and he had been deeply relieved to find them total strangers.

"You plead guilty, eh?" said the General.

Frank nodded.