"You're half asleep, you old fool," I said, feeling the sweat start out on my forehead, and I repeated it to myself when I was in my room and turning down the bedclothes. CHAPTER III A VISITOR AT NIGHT A nice breeze was blowing in from the meadows, cooling the hot night, and finally, when I was laughing at my nervousness, I went to the window and leaned on the sill. It was a very peaceful scene, I can tell you, with that long stretch of grass and daisies and the water, and the light, carried through the factory yard up the river, bobbing along as the watchman passed one window after another. All but the apple trees! They seemed as horrible as ever, and a dozen times I thought I saw men without heads, or with long arms like apes, creeping and skulking from one shadow to another. At last I felt my eyes sore with staring at them, and I turned away. Just then I heard the knocking at the back door. It was soft and careful at first and then a little louder. "Some one from up the street to ask me questions," said I, feeling my way down the stairs, but then I caught the sound of something that I thought was the mewing of a cat. If I had had any sense I would have called to the Judge before I slid the bolt and opened the door. The thing I saw was a little bundle of white clothing. At first it looked so white it seemed to give off a light and I thought it was hanging in the air. Then I saw two hands were holding it, and that it was a child. "I want to see the Judge," said a thick, evil voice. "I've got a joke for him--the best joke he ever had played on him." "And who are you?" I asked. "Oh, he'll see me all well enough," said the man, with a heave of his shoulders. "I'm John Chalmers!" I could not speak. I stepped back and he came in. He must have heard the voices in the study. But I can hardly say what happened. I only know that I found myself standing behind him and that I saw him put the baby into a chair and heard him cough. The two men--the Judge and Mr. Roddy--looked up, and I never saw two such faces. "Stare!" said the terrible creature. "Well you may! Go ahead and stare, for all the good it will do you. I know you both. Both of you wanted me hung, didn't you? You're clever men--you two. But I'm cleverer than you. The joke is on you." "You came in?" asked the Judge in a whisper, as if he didn't believe his eyes. "Yes, and I'd have come in the front door if the people, with their butterplate eyes, weren't watching me wherever I go. Oh, don't think I'm crazy with drink. No! I'm clever." The Judge and Mr. Roddy had stood up and the Judge could not seem to find a word to say, but Mr. Roddy clenched his freckled fists. "What yer want?" he said. "I came to tell you," said Chalmers, "that the joke is on you. I didn't expect the pleasure of seeing you, Roddy, my fine penny-a-liner. But you're in this, too. The joke is on you. I've been acquitted."