tion of the
fight, especially when I told him how Brassy "drew Caunt's claret,"
and showed such other knowledge of the scientific practice that no one
could possibly have learnt had he not read up carefully _Bell's Life_
for the current week.

I am sure my uncle thought I was one of the best of nephews, and I
considered him in reality "my only uncle." Long, thought I, may he
prove to be; and yet I never borrowed a penny from him in my life.

On the next day, fully equipped, and with all that was necessary for
our distinguished position, we set out for Newmarket Heath, even now
the glory of the racing world, not forgetting Goodwood, which is more
or less a private business and fashionable picnic.

I shall not attempt to describe Newmarket. No one can describe, the
indescribable. I will only say it was not the Newmarket which our
later generation knows. It was then in its crude state of original
simplicity. There were no stands save "the Duke's," at the top of the
town, and one other, somewhat smaller and nearer to the present grand
stand. Those who could afford to do so rode on horseback about the
Heath; those who could not walked if they felt disposed, or sat down
on the turf--the best enjoyment of all if you are tired. We did all
three: we rode, walked, and sat down. At last, after a thoroughly
enjoyable outing, such as the Bar knows nothing of in these
respectable times, we returned to our business quarters in the Temple.

CHAPTER VII.

AN EPISODE AT HERTFORD QUARTER SESSIONS.

Hearsay is not, as a rule, evidence in a court of justice. There
are one or two exceptions which I need not mention. If you want,
therefore, to say what Smith said, you cannot say it, but must call
Smith himself, and probably he will swear he never said anything of
the sort.

The Marquis of Salisbury, in the early days that I speak of, was a
kind-hearted chairman, and would never allow the quibble of the lawyer
to stand in the way of justice to the prisoner. In those days at
sessions they were not so nice in the observances of mere forms as
they are now, and you could sometimes get in something that was not
exactly evidence, strictly speaking, in favour of a prisoner by a
side-wind, as it were, although it was not the correct thing to do.

It happened that I was instructed to defend a man who had been
committed to Hertford Quarter Sessions on a charge of felony. The
committing magistrates having refused to let the man out on b