Page:Cup of Gold-1929.djvu/261

own satisfaction, my lord, whether the tree stood as described. It was while he was there—”

The case sang to its monotonous conclusion, Sir Henry, behind his broad table, stirred sleepily. Now the guards brought in a sullen vagrant, clothed in rags of old sail.

“Charged with stealing four biscuits and a mirror from So-and-So, my lord.”

“The proof?”

“He was detected, my lord.”

“Did you, or did you not, steal four biscuits and a mirror?”

The prisoner’s face became even more sullen.

“I told ’em.”

“My lord,” the guard prompted.

“My lord.”

“Why did you steal these articles?”

“I wan’ed ’em.”

“Say my lord.”

“My lord.”

“What did you want with them?”

“I wan’ed the biscuits for to eat.”

“My lord.”

“My lord.”

“And the mirror?”

“I wan’ed the mirror for to look at myself in.”

“My lord.”

“My lord.”

They led the man to his imprisonment.

Now the guards brought in a thin, pasty woman.

“Charged with harlotry and incontinence, my lord.”