At seven the mess was provided, and those who were not engaged in court sat down with a good appetite and a feeling of delightful exultation.

Meanwhile his lordship proceeded with his work, while the temperature was 84 deg..  Juries wiped their faces, and javelin-men leaned on their spears.

Now and then the sounds of revelry broke upon the ear as a door was opened.

At ten his lordship rose for a few moments, and on proceeding along the corridor towards his room for his cup of tea, several champagne bottles stood boldly in line before his eyes.  He also saw two pairs of legs adorned with yellow stockings—­legs of the Sheriff’s footmen waiting to attend his lordship’s carriage some hours hence.

The scene recalled the scenes of other days, and the old times of the Home Circuit came back.  Should he adjourn and join the mess?  No, no; he must not give way.  He had his tea, and went back to court.  He was not very well pleased with the cross-examination of the Irish advocate.

“Do you want the witness to contradict what he has said in your favour, Mr.——?”

“No, my lord.”

“Why do you cross-examine, then?”

Now the catch of an old circuit song was heard.

“Call your next witness, Mr. Jones.  Why was not this case tried in the County Court?”

(Sounds of revelry from the Bar mess-room.)

“Keep that door shut!”

“May the witnesses go in the third case after this, my lord?”

“I don’t know how long this case will last.  I am here to do the work of—­”

("Jolly good fellow!” from the mess-room.)

“Keep that door shut!”

“What is your case, Mr.——?”

“It’s slander, my lord—­one butcher calling another a rogue; similar to the present case.”

“Does he justify?”

“Oh no, my lord.”  It was now on the stroke of twelve.

“I don’t know at what time your lordship proposes to rise.”

“Renew your application by-and-by.”

("We won’t go home till morning!” from the mess-room.)

“Keep that door shut!  How many more witnesses have you got, Mr. Williams?”

Mr. Williams, counting:  “About—­ten—­eleven—­”

“And you, Mr. Jones?”

“About the same number, my lord.”

It was twenty minutes to one.

“I shall not sit any longer to oblige any one,” said Sir Henry, closing his book with a bang.

The noise woke the usher, and soon after the blare of trumpets announced that the court had risen, as some wag said, until the day after yesterday.]

CHAPTER XXXVII.

HOW I MET AN INCORRIGIBLE PUNSTER.