respect; and until the
Seminary boys took his Majesty in hand he had never been worsted. No
doubt an Edinburgh advocate, who had been imported into a petty case to
browbeat the local Bench, thought he had the Bailie on the hip when that
eminent man, growing weary of continual allusions to "the defunct," said
that if he heard anything more about "the defunct" he would adjourn the
case for a week, and allow him to appear in his own interests. Then the
advocate explained with elaborate politeness that he was afraid that
even the summons of the Muirtown Bench could not produce this party, and
that his appearance, if he came, might secure the court to himself.

"You mean," said the Bailie, eyeing the advocate with unmoved dignity,
"that the man is dead. Quite so! Quite so! But let me tell you that if
you had been a Muirtown solicitor you would have had your case better
prepared, and not wasted our time with the talk of dead people. You are
still young, and when you have had more experience you will know that it
is only the evidence of living witnesses that can be received in a court
of justice. Proceed with your case and confine yourself to relevant
evidence--yes, sir, relevant evidence."

It only shows the inherent greatness of the man, that in private life
the Bailie followed the calling of an Italian warehouseman, which
really, in plain words, was the same thing as a superior grocer, nor was
he above his trade for eight hours of the day. When not engaged in
official work, he could be found behind his counter, and yet even there
he seemed to be upon the Bench. His white apron he wore as a robe of
office, he heard what the ladies had to say with a judicial air,
correcting them if they hinted at any tea costing less than four and
sixpence per pound, commanding a cheese to be brought forward for
inspection, as if it had been a prisoner in the dock, probing it with
searching severity and giving a judgment upon it from which there was no
appeal. He distinguished between customers, assigning to each such
provisions as were suitable for their several homes, inquiring in a
paternal manner after the welfare of their children, and when the case
was concluded--that is to say, the tea and the sugar bought--even
condescending to a certain high level of local gossip. When the customer
left the shop it was with a sense of privilege, as if one had been
called up for a little to sit with the judge. It was understood that
only people of a