answer it till you are told to do so, because my learned friend may
object to it."

Rodwell sprang to his feet and objected at once.

"What is the question?" asked the Marquis. "We must hear what the
question is before I can rule as to your objection, Mr. Rodwell."

This was a good one for Mr. Rodwell, and made him colour up to his
eyebrows, especially as I looked at him and smiled.

"The question, my lord," said I, "is a very simple one: Did not Mr.
Baron Martin say, when applied to for bail, that there was not a rag
of a case against the prisoner?"

"This is monstrous!" said the learned stickler for forms and
ceremonies--"monstrous! Never heard of such a thing!"

It might have been monstrous, but it gave me an excellent grievance
with the jury, even if the Marquis did not see his way to allow the
question; and a grievance is worth something, if you have no defence.

The Marquis paid great attention to the case, especially after that
observation of the Baron's. Although he regretted that it could not be
got in as evidence, he was good enough to say I should get the benefit
of it with the jury.

All this time there was a continuous growl from my learned friend of
"Monstrous! monstrous!"--so much so that for days after that word
kept ringing in my ears, as monotonously as a muffin bell on a Sunday
afternoon.

But I believe he was more irritated by my subsequent conduct, for I
played round the question like one longing for forbidden fruit, and
emphasized the objection of my learned friend now and again: all very
wrong, I know now, but in the heyday of youthful ardour how many
faults we commit!"

"Just tell me," I said to the policeman, "did the learned Judge--I
mean Mr. Baron Martin--seem to know what he was about when he let this
man out on bail?"

"O yes, sir," said the witness, "he knowed what he was about, right
enough," stroking his chin.

"You may rely on that," said the Marquis. "You may take that for
granted, Mr. Hawkins."

"I thought so, my lord; there is not a judge on the Bench who can see
through a case quicker than the Baron."

The grumbling still continued.

"Now, then, don't answer this."

"You have already ruled, my lord," said Rodwell.

"This is another one," said I; "but if it's regular to keep objecting
before the prisoner's counsel has a chance of putting his question,
I sit down, my lord. I shall be allowed, probably, to address the
jury--that is, if Mr. Rodwell does not object.