Pownal requested to see the warrant, and for the first time learned the nature of the accusation; he then sent a messenger after Mr. Tippit, and that gentleman, in compliance with the summons, soon made his appearance. Him Pownal engaged to defend the prisoner. By this time the little office was filled with an inquisitive crowd, eager to hear the eloquence of the counsel, and to watch the vibrations of the scales of justice, among whom Judge Bernard might be seen seated by the side of the prisoner. Any person entered and departed as he pleased, the room being, for the time of the trial, converted into a public place; and while preparations were being made preliminary to the opening of the court, the spectators amused themselves with making observations to each other. "What have they took Holden up for?" said a man to Mr. Davenport, who, of course, was present. "I hear it is for profane speaking and reviling," answered Davenport. "If everybody was to have his desarts," said our friend, Tom Gladding, squirting a stream of tobacco juice over the floor, "I guess, some others would be worse off," and he looked sharply at Davenport. "It is time such things should be punished," said Davenport. "People begin to act as if there was no law in the country." "Don't you be quite so hard on a fellow," said Tom. "I recollect the time before you were convarted, squire, when you swore like a trooper." The face of Davenport faded into a dusky grey with anger, and he looked as if he would have liked to annihilate the audacious Tom, but, by a violent effort, controlling his passion, he said: "I trust the Lord has forgiven me the sin." "I hope he has," said Tom, "and seems to me it would be a good thing for Squire Miller to follow his example." "Suppose you tell him so," said Davenport, sarcastically. "Well, seeing as how you're so pressing," said Gladding "I don't care if I do. Squire," he cried, addressing the Justice, and drawing the attention of all to himself, "here's Squire Davenport says, he expects the Lord's forgive his cussing and swearing, and thinks you'd better do as well by Father Holden, and let him run." A general shout of laughter greeted this speech of Gladding's, and there were exclamations of "Well said, Tom," and "He had him, there," and "Who would have thought that of Davenport?" The unfortunate victim glared, with fury in his eyes, at Tom, who, interpreting his looks to suit himself, cried-- "He's coming, Squire, to speak for himself." Davenport here protested, he had said no such thing, and that it was a shame he should be abused by a scurrilous fellow, in such a manner. "What's that you say?" said Gladding, stepping up to Davenport; "I'm no more squirrilous, than you are yourself; though, for that matter, there ain't a squirrel on a walnut tree, but would be ashamed to be seen in your company,--squirrilous fellow, eh!"