l," said Mr. Silverspoon.

Joe appeared in the uniform of the Hussars. And he wore a medal too.
Mr. Ricochet had no sympathy with heroes any more than he had with men of
letters, artists, or any other class of talent. He was a dry,
uncompromising, blunt, unfeeling lawyer, looking at justice as a
thimblerig looks at his pea; lift which thimble you may, he will take
care the pea shall not be found if he can help it. He smiled a grim,
inhuman smile at Bumpkin's tears, and muttered that he was an "unmanly
milksop."

Joe gave his evidence briefly and without hesitation. Everyone could see
he was speaking the truth; everybody but Mr. Ricochet, who commenced his
cross-examination by telling him to be careful, and that he was upon his
oath.

"Be careful, sir;" he repeated.

Joe looked.

"You are on your oath, sir." Joe faced him.

"You deserted your master, did you?"

"No," said Joe; "I aint no deserter?"

"But you enlisted."

"I don't know as that's desertion," said Joe; "and I'm here to speak for
him now; and I give my evidence at Malta, too."

"Do you swear that, sir?" enquired Mr. Ricochet. "Were you not with your
master when the young woman accused him of assaulting her?"

"I was not."

"Why did you enlist, then?" enquired Mr. Ricochet.

"Cause I choose to," said Joe.

"Now, sir, upon your oath; I ask you, did you not enlist because of this
charge?"

"No; I never heard on it till arter I was listed."

"When did you hear of it?"

"At the trial at the Old Bailey."

"O," said the learned Q.C.; "wait a minute, you were there, were you?
Were you there as a witness?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I warnt."

"Will you swear that?" asked Ricochet, amid roars of laughter.

"What were you there for?"

"To hear the trial!"

"And you were not called?"

"No."

"And do you mean on your oath, sir, to say that you had enlisted at that
time."

"Now look at that," said Joe; "the Sergeant there enlisted me, and he
knows."

"I suppose you had seen your master's watch many times?"

"I'd seen it," said Joe.

"And did not give evidence!"

"No; I warnt called, and know'd nothing about it."

"You've been paid for coming here, I suppose?"

"Not a farden, and wouldn't take un; he bin a good maister to me as ever
lived."

"And you left him. Now then, sir, be careful; do you swear you heard
Bumpkin say Snooks should not have the pig?"

"I do."

"Have you been speaking to anyone about this ca