"Oh, by Jove, you were perfectly right! I always make a point of speaking myself; and I can assure you that you did remarkably well. It was a novel view, but decidedly ingenious, and may lead to great results. If that fellow gets off, you may rely upon it there will be some bloodshed again upon the Border." "And a jolly calendar, of course, for next circuit. I say, Authony,--how many cases have you got?" "Two thefts with habit and repute, a hame-sucken, rather a good forgery, and an assault with intent to commit." "Long?" "Rather--but poor pay. I haven't sacked more than nine guineas altogether. Gad!" continued Anthony, stretching himself, "this is slow work. I'd rather by a great deal be rowing on the canal." "Hush! here come the jury." They entered, took their seats, and each man in succession answered to his name. I stole a glance at M'Wilkin. He looked as leonine as ever, and kept winking perseveringly to the Hawickers. "Now, gentlemen," said the clerk of court, "what is your verdict?" The foreman rose. "The jury, by a majority, find the charges against the prisoner NOT PROVEN." "Hurrah!" shouted M'Wilkin, reckless of all authority. "Hurrah! I say--you counsellor in the wig--ye shanna want a sheep's head thae three years, if there's ane to be had on the Border!" And in this way I gained my first acquittal. CHAPTER III. I found Strachan in his room with his face buried in the bed-clothes. He was kicking his legs as though he suffered under a violent fit of the toothache. "I say, Tom, what's the matter? Look up, man! Do you know I've got that scoundrel off?" No answer. "Tom, I say! Tom, you dunderhead--what do you mean by making an ass of yourself this way? Get up, for shame, and answer me!" Poor Strachan raised his head from the coverlet. His eyes were absolutely pink, and his cheeks of the tint of a lemon. "O Fred, Fred!" said he with a series of interjectional gasps. "I am the most unfortunate wretch in the universe. All the hopes I had formerly cherished are blighted at once in the bud! She is gone, my friend--gone away from me, and, alas! I fear for ever! "The deuce she has! and how?" "Oh what madness tempted me to lead her to the court?--what infatuation it was to expose those angelic features to the risk of recognition! Who that ever saw those dove-like eyes could forget them?" "I have no objection to the eyes--they were really very passable. But who twigged her?" "An emissary of her father's--that odious miscreant who was giving evidence at the trial." "The policeman? Whew! Tom!--I don't like that." "He was formerly the land-steward of the Viscount;--a callous, cruel wretch, who was more than suspected of having made away with his wife." "And did he recognise her?"