Everything is unusual. Your cravat is unusual. This prisoner is invited to dine at my house to-day--that's peculiar. He is my wife's first husband's only child's god-father--that's a little out of the ordinary. MR. WORMINGTON. The charge is so serious! MR. POSKET. But I am a man as well as a magistrate, advise me, Wormington, advise me! MR. WORMINGTON. Well--you can apply to yourself for permission to grant Colonel Lukyn's request. MR. POSKET. [_Hastily scribbling on LUKYN'S card._] I do--I do--and after much conflicting argument I consent to see Colonel Lukyn here, immediately. [_Handing the card to MR. WORMINGTON who passes it to LUGG, who then goes out._] Don't leave me, Wormington--you must stand by me to see that I remain calm, firm, and judicial. [_He hastily puts on the red necktie in an untidy manner._] Poor Lukyn, I must sink the friend in the magistrate, and in dealing with his errors apply the scourge to myself. [_To MR. WORMINGTON._] Wormington, tap me on the shoulder when I am inclined to be more than usually unusual. [_MR. WORMINGTON stands behind him, and LUGG enters with LUKYN. LUKYN'S dress-clothes are much soiled and disordered, and he, too, has a small strip of plaster upon the bridge of his nose. There is a constrained pause, LUKYN and MR. POSKET both cough._ LUKYN. [_To himself._] Poor Posket! MR. POSKET. [_To himself._] Poor Lukyn! LUKYN. [_To himself._] I suppose he has been sitting up for his wife all night, poor devil! [_To MR. POSKET._] Ahem! How are you, Posket? [_MR. WORMINGTON touches MR. POSKET'S shoulder._ MR. POSKET. I regret to see you in this terrible position, Colonel Lukyn. LUKYN. By George, old fellow, I regret to find myself in it. [_Sitting, and taking up newspaper._] I suppose they've got us in the "Times," confound 'em! [_While LUKYN is reading the paper, MR. POSKET and MR. WORMINGTON hold a hurried consultation respecting LUKYN'S behaviour._ MR. POSKET. H'm! [_To LUGG._] Sergeant, I think Colonel Lukyn may be accommodated with a chair. LUGG. He's in it, sir. LUKYN. [_Rising and putting down paper._] Beg your pardon, forgot where I was. I suppose everything must be formal in this confounded place? MR. POSKET. I am afraid, Colonel Lukyn, it will be necessary even here to preserve strictly our unfortunate relative positions. [_LUKYN bows._] Sit down. [_LUKYN sits again. POSKET takes up the charge sheet._] Colonel Lukyn! In addressing you now, I am speaking, not as a man, but, as an instrument of the law. As a man I may, or may not, be a weak, vicious, despicable creature. LUKYN. Certainly--of course. MR. POSKET. But, as a magistrate I am bound to say you fill me with pain and astonishment. LUKYN. Quite right--every man to his trade, go on, Posket. MR. POSKET.