"I have enjoyed some opportunities of legal study, your worship," said I, "and am happy to state that my opinion in the present instance will not discredit the assertion. The case stands thus: I am employed by the Honorable Captain De Courcy to perform a particular duty, which is of the distinct nature of a trust; that trust, whose importance I do not seek to extenuate in the slightest, I fail in. I will not plead the strong temptation of a race and a great spectacle. I will not allege, as perhaps I might, the example of my companions, then revelling in all the pleasures of the day. I will simply say that no one fact can be adduced to favor the suspicion of a meditated robbery; and that my conduct, so palpably open and public, rejects the least assumption of the kind, and at the utmost can establish nothing beyond what I am willing to plead guilty to,--a breach of trust." "Listen to the Attorney-General! By the hokey, it's himself they 've in the dock!" said one. "That's the chap can give them chapter and varse!" cried another. "Silence there! Keep silence in the court!" said the justice, now really warm with passion. "I'd have you to know, sirrah," said he, addressing me, "that your pettifogging shrewdness is anything but favorable to you in the unfortunate position in which you stand. I shall commit you for trial, and would advise you--it is the only piece of advice I 'll trouble you with--to charge some more skilful advocate with your defence, and not intrust it to the knavish flippancy of conceit and chicanery." "I mean to have counsel, your worship," said I, resolutely; for my blood was up, and I would have argued with the twelve judges. "I mean to have one of the first and most eminent at the bar for my defence. Mr. Mansergh, of Merrion Square, will not refuse my brief when he sees the fee I can offer him." A regular roar of laughter filled the court; the impudence of my speech, and my thus introducing the name of one of the very first men at the bar, as likely to concern himself for such a miserable case and object, was too much for any gravity; and when the magistrate turned to comment upon my unparalleled assurance and impertinence to Captain De Courcy, he discovered that the honorable captain had left his place. Such was the fact! The dashing aide-de-camp was at that moment standing in earnest converse with myself beside the dock. "May I speak with this boy in another room, your worship?" said he, addressing the court. "Certainly, Captain De Courcy! Sergeant Biles, show Captain De Courcy into my robing-room." The honorable captain did not regain his composure immediately on finding himself alone with me; on the contrary, his agitation was such that he made two or three efforts before he could utter the few words with which he first addressed me. "What did you mean by saying that Mr. Mansergh would defend you? and what was the fee you alluded to?" were the words.