"A complainant," the cop said. "She said that Pillsworth stole her car and pinched her. That is if he's Pillsworth, and he denies it." "Don't you mean he pinched her car?" "No, sir. He stole her car, but he pinched her--on the thigh." "My word!" the judge said. The cop nodded. "She wants to sue someone, only since there were two of them she doesn't know which one did the pinching. She can't be sure whether it was this Pillsworth or the other one--if you follow my meaning." The judge paled. "Are you being deliberately cryptic, Rooney, or is it simply that you can't see your way clear to be clear, if I make myself clear." "I'm afraid I don't follow you, your honor." "Just a taste of your own medicine, Rooney," the judge said vengefully. "How do you like it?" He turned his gaze moodily on the blonde. "About this blonde...?" "Yes, your honor?" "She gets everything all snarled up. Every time she enters the picture it ceases to make sense. Do you suppose this would all clear up if I just had her thrown out of court?" "I don't think so. With or without her, things are snarled up just the same. I've never seen so much snarling in all my life; these people just don't seem to like each other." "What about this fellow who denies he's Pillsworth?" the judge asked. "Is he the only pure defendant in the bunch?" "Oh, no, your honor. He's the biggest complainant of the lot. And he's far from pure. He's accusing the congressman of being the head of a gang of subversives who are planning to kill the entire population with bacteria." * * * * * The judge leaned across the bench, plainly scandalized. "The congressman!" he gasped. "Why Congressman Entwerp was a classmate of mine!" "Yes, your honor. And he's threatened suit against this fellow for slander." "Good," the judge said. "Have this Pillsworth or whoever he is brought before the bench. Obviously, he's a low criminal type. It sticks out all over him." The cop nodded and turned in Marc's direction. "You," he said. "The judge will hear you." Across the room, however, Marc gave no sign of hearing. Instead, he was gazing intently at the vacant chair next to his own. On his face was an expression of anxious annoyance. "Now, look, George," he said, "You owe it to humanity to show yourself and help get this mess cleared up. Why not be a good loser for a change?" The empty chair shifted, just perceptibly, with an air of complacency. "Maybe they'll hang you," George replied hopefully from thin air. "Don't be silly," Marc said. "There's no reason why they should. Come on, now, be a good fellow and help get this over with." "Oh, I'm going to help get it over with," George said pleasantly. "When I'm through, they'll lower the boom on you so hard you'll be the first man in history to be buried in an envelope." Just then Toffee leaned forward and touched Marc's arm. "The judge wants to speak to you," she said. "Come on, let's go."