_Mr. Hungary, Q.C_. I am for the prosecution, my lord, instructed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. (JUDGE _bites his pen and nods_.) My lord, and gentlemen of the Jury, although this case may seem to some ill-judging persons a trivial one, I think you will be able to see before it is over that it is really important in its bearing on the welfare of society, the welfare of the public; that is, of the respectable public,--of the respectable public, gentlemen. For in these days, when the spirit of discontent is so widespread, all illegal actions have, so to say, a political bearing, my lord, and all illegal actions are wicked, gentlemen of the Jury, since they tend towards the insecurity of society, or in other words, are definitely aimed at the very basis of all morality and religion. Therefore, my lord, I have received instructions from the Home Secretary to prosecute this woman, who, as I shall be able to prove to you, gentlemen of the Jury, by the testimony of three witnesses occupying responsible official positions, has been guilty of a breach at once of the laws of the country and the dictates of morality, and has thereby seriously inconvenienced a very respectable tradesman, nay (_looking at his brief_) three respectable tradesmen. I shall be able to show, gentlemen, that this woman has stolen three loaves of bread: (_impressively_) not one, gentlemen, but three. _A Voice_. She's got three children, you palavering blackguard! [_Confusion_. _Mr. Justice N_. (_who has made an elaborate show of composing himself to slumber since the counsel began, here wakes up and cries out_) Arrest that man, officer; I will commit him, and give him the heaviest punishment that the law allows of. [_The_ USHER _dives among the audience amidst great confusion, but comes back empty-handed_. _J. N_. A most dangerous disturbance! A most dangerous disturbance!