efore the Derby, and we always took care to have a
full list of cases for that Wednesday, for _fear_ the public should
think we went to the Derby and left the work to look after itself.
We generally had about a dozen in pretty early in the afternoon of
Tuesday, so that the suitors and witnesses, solicitors and all others
whom it concerned, might know where they were, and that _they_ could
not go to the Derby the following day.

What a scene it was as soon as this list was published! I used to sit
and watch the various applicants sidle into their seats with the
most sheepish faces for men I ever saw. In came the first gentleman,
flustered with excitement.

"Would your lordship allow me to make an application?"

"Yes," said my lord--"yes; I see no objection. What is your
application, Mr. ----?" I will not give his name.

"There is a case, my lord, in to-morrow's list--number ten. It is
quite impossible, seeing the number of cases before it, that that case
can be reached."

"If that is so," said my lord, "there is no necessity for making any
application--if you know it is impossible to reach it, I mean to
say--"

"It is _ex abundanti cautela_, my lord."

I think that was the expression, but, as it is not dog-Latin, I am not
sure.

"It is a good horse to run, I dare say," said my lord, "but I don't
think he'll win this time."

The counsel shook his head and would have smiled, I could see that,
only he was disappointed. I felt sorry for him, because his clients
had made arrangements to go to the Derby. As he was turning
disconsolately away my lord spoke with a little more encouragement in
his tone and a quiet smile.

"We will see later, Mr. ----. Is your client _unable_ to appear
to-morrow?"

"I'm afraid so, my lord, quite."

"Have you a doctor's certificate?"

"I am afraid not, my lord; he is not ill."

"Then you can renew the application later; but understand, I am
_determined to get through the list_."

That was so like my lord; nothing would turn him from his resolution,
if he sat till midnight, and I nearly barked with admiration.

Then came number six on the list, with the same complaint that it was
not likely to be reached.

"I'm not so sure," said Sir Henry. "I have just refused number ten;
yours is a long way before that. Some of the previous ones may go off
very soon; there does not seem to be anything _very long_ in front of
you, Mr. ----. What's your difficulty about being here?"

"The r