When the Court reassembled and Isaac took his seat in the witness chair, Aunt Julie Ann’s huge form suddenly appeared in the doorway with her hand resting confidingly on Alfred’s arm. They walked inside the railing of the bar and took seats assigned to them behind John Graham’s counsel. Aunt Julie Ann handed Ackerman a pair of Isaac’s old shoes. He measured them quickly on a diagram which he drew from his pocket. Isaac watched Aunt Julie Ann and Alfred with mouth opened in wonder, rage and growing fear. He rose and bowed to the judges. “I gotter ax de cote ter perteck me, gemmens,” he said falteringly. “What do you mean?” asked a judge. “Dat nigger Alfred dar tryin’ ter steal my wife from me, sah!” Alfred grinned, and patted Aunt Julie Ann’s hand and whispered: “Doan min’ de low-live rascal, honey!” “Yassah, an’ my wife come here tryin’ ter timidate me, sah. She jes fetch er par er my ole shoes inter dis cote. She’s a cunjer ‘oman, sah. I try ter sanctify her, but she won’t stay sanctified. She got a kink er my hair las’ night and wrap it up in a piece er paper and put it under de cote house do’ step, an’ she say dat ef I walk over dat into dis house ter-day an’ jestify ergin Marse John Graham she fling er spell over me. I ax de cote fer perfection, sah. I axes de Sheriff ter take dat bunch er hair from under dem steps fo’ I say annuder word!” “Silence, sir, and proceed with your testimony,” said the Judge. Aunt Julie Ann fanned her fat face, smiled at Stella and Susie and quietly slipped her hand in Alfred’s. Isaac dropped into his chair limp and crestfallen. In a sort of dazed trance he kept his eye fixed on Alfred’s face grinning in triumph. John’s lawyer pounced on him in sudden sharp accents. “Is this a pair of your shoes, Isaac?” “Yassah,” was the listless answer. “You wore these shoes the night the Judge was killed, didn’t you?” “Yassah.” “You’re sure of it?” “Yassah. Dem’s my ole ones. I got a new pair now.” The lawyer stepped close and in threatening tones asked: “Will you explain to this Court what your shoes were doing making tracks in the soft mud of the underground passage from the family vault of the Graham house the night of this murder?” Isaac’s jaw dropped, he drew his red bandanna handkerchief and mopped his brow. A hum of excitement ran over the court room, and an officer cried: “Silence!” Isaac continued to mop his brow and fumble at his handkerchief while he gazed at the lawyer in a helpless stupor. “Answer my question, sir!” the towering figure thundered into his face. “I doan know what yer means, sah,” he faltered. “Yes you do. There were nine other men with you. Who were they?” “I dunno, sah!” Larkin whispered excitedly to Steve, who shook his head and gazed at Isaac in amazement. “Were they masked so that you couldn’t see their faces?” Isaac looked appealingly to the judges and whimpered: “I doan know what dey er talkin’ ‘bout, sah.” “You must answer the questions,” said the Judge.