Nor, judging from the expression of Jacob's visage, did there seem to be much probability of their being able to do anything of the kind. There was another interval of silence--broken this time by Captain Rudd. "Then because this gentleman chooses to differ from us, without condescending to give us his reason for so doing, are we to stultify ourselves, and is justice to be baulked? Is that the situation, Mr. Foreman?" "Excuse me, Captain Rudd, but Mr. Longsett is not alone. I also say not guilty. The observation of Mr. Parkes, expressing a hope that the prisoner will get seven years, shows to me that a spirit of malignancy is in the air, and to that spirit I am unable to subscribe." The speaker was Mr. Plummer. The others looked at him. The foreman spoke. "Pardon me, Mr. Plummer, but why do you say not guilty?" "Because I decline to be a participator in the condemnation of this mere youth to a ruthless term of penal servitude." "But, my dear sir, he won't get penal servitude--Mr. Parkes was only joking. He'll get, at the outside, three months." "That would be too much. It would be sufficient punishment for one of his years--my views on the subject of juvenile delinquency I have never disguised--that he should be requested to come up for judgment when called upon." "But, my dear sir, if the magistrates leave us a free hand to do our duty, why can't we leave them a free hand to do theirs? The issue we have to decide upon is a very simple one; the responsibility of acting on that decision will be theirs." Mr. Plummer settled his spectacles on his nose and was silent. Captain Rudd addressed him. "I suppose you will not deny, sir, that all the evidence goes to prove the prisoner's guilt?" "There are degrees in guilt." "Possibly--but you admit that there is guilt, even though it may only be in the positive degree?" Again Mr. Plummer was still. Mr. Slater called to Mr. Longsett across the table: "You're a sportsman, Jacob, and I'm a sportsman. I tell you what I'll do. I'll toss you, guilty or not guilty. I can't stop messing about here all day--I've got my beasts to dress." Mr. Longsett was obviously tempted; the offer appealed to the most susceptible part of him. Still, he shook his head. "No," he grunted, as if the necessity of announcing such a refusal pained him. "I shan't." Mr. Plummer was scandalised. "Such a proposal is disgraceful--it ought not to be allowed to be made. Making of justice a mockery!" Mr. Slater declined to be snubbed--at least by Mr. Plummer. "Seems to me as if you don't quite know where you are. First you want to preach to the magistrates, then you want to preach to the jury; perhaps you think you're at the corner of High Street?" There were those who smiled. The reference was to Mr. Plummer's fondness for open-air expositions of "the Word." Mr. Grice drummed with his fingers on the table.