“That I wish for no escapes, when my choice has been free and fortunate.” “And you, Jack?” “Sir!” answered the nephew, starting, as if aroused from a brown study. “Did you speak to me, uncle Tom?” “_He_’ll not be of much use to us next week, Timms,” said the counsellor, coolly, filling his own and his neighbour’s glass as he spoke, with iced Madeira—“These capital cases demand the utmost vigilance; more especially when popular prejudice sets in against them.” “Should the jury find Mary Monson to be guilty, what would be the sentence of the court?” demanded Sarah, smiling, even while she seemed much interested—“I believe that is right, Mike—the court ‘sentences,’ and the jury ‘convicts.’ If there be any mistake, you must answer for it.” “I am afraid to speak of laws, or constitutions, in the presence of your uncle, since the rebuke Jack and I got in that affair of the toast,” returned Sarah’s betrothed, arching his eye-brows. “By the way, Jack, did that dinner ever come off?” demanded the uncle, suddenly; “I looked for your toasts in the journals, but do not remember ever to have seen them.” “You could not have seen any of mine, sir; for I went to Biberry that very morning, and only left there last evening”—Anna’s countenance resembled a lily, just as it begins to droop—“I believe, however, the whole affair fell through, as no one seems to know, just now, who are and who are not the friends of liberty. It is the people to-day; the pope next day; some prince to-morrow; and, by the end of the week, we may have a Massaniello or a Robespierre uppermost. The times seem sadly out of joint, just now, and the world is fast getting to be upside-down.” “It’s all owing to this infernal Code, Timms, which is enough to revolutionize human nature itself!” cried Dunscomb, with an animation that produced a laugh in the young folk, (Anne excepted,) and a simper in the person addressed. “Ever since this thing has come into operation among us, I never know when a case is to be heard, the decision had, or the principles that are to come uppermost. Well, we must try and get some good out of it, if we can, in this capital case.” “Which is drawing very near, ’Squire; and I have some facts to communicate in that affair which it may be well to compare with the law, without much more delay.” “Let us finish this bottle—if the boys help us, it will not be much more than a glass apiece.” “I don’t think the ’Squire will ever be up_held_ at the polls by the Temperance people,” said Timms, filling his glass to the brim; for, to own the truth, it was seldom that he got such wine. “As _you_ are expecting to be held _up_ by them, my fine fellow. I’ve heard of your management, master Timms, and am told you aspire as high as the State Senate. Well; there is room for better, but much worse men have been sent there. Now, let us go to what I call the ‘Rattletrap office.’” CHAPTER XI.