The figure of Colonel Starbottle alone remained erect—­white and rigid.  And then the Judge, looking up, saw what no one else in the court had seen—­that the Colonel was sincere and in earnest; that what he had conceived to be the pleader’s most perfect acting, and most elaborate irony, were the deep, serious, mirthless convictions of a man without the least sense of humor.  There was a touch of this respect in the Judge’s voice as he said to him, gently, “You may proceed, Colonel Starbottle.”

“I thank your Honor,” said the Colonel, slowly, “for recognizing and doing all in your power to prevent an interruption that, during my thirty years’ experience at the bar, I have never yet been subjected to without the privilege of holding the instigators thereof responsible—­personally responsible.  It is possibly my fault that I have failed, oratorically, to convey to the gentlemen of the jury the full force and significance of the defendant’s signals.  I am aware that my voice is singularly deficient in producing either the dulcet tones of my fair client or the impassioned vehemence of the defendant’s repose.  I will,” continued the Colonel, with a fatigued but blind fatuity that ignored the hurriedly knit brows and warning eyes of the Judge, “try again.  The note uttered by my client” (lowering his voice to the faintest of falsettos) “was ‘Kerree’; the response was ‘Kerrow’”—­and the Colonel’s voice fairly shook the dome above him.

Another uproar of laughter followed this apparently audacious repetition, but was interrupted by an unlooked-for incident.  The defendant rose abruptly, and tearing himself away from the withholding hand and pleading protestations of his counsel, absolutely fled from the courtroom, his appearance outside being recognized by a prolonged “Kerrow” from the bystanders, which again and again followed him in the distance.  In the momentary silence which followed, the Colonel’s voice was heard saying, “We rest here, your Honor,” and he sat down.  No less white, but more agitated, was the face of the defendant’s counsel, who instantly rose.

“For some unexplained reason, your Honor, my client desires to suspend further proceedings, with a view to effect a peaceable compromise with the plaintiff.  As he is a man of wealth and position, he is able and willing to pay liberally for that privilege.  While I, as his counsel, am still convinced of his legal irresponsibility, as he has chosen, however, to publicly abandon his rights here, I can only ask your Honor’s permission to suspend further proceedings until I can confer with Colonel Starbottle.”

“As far as I can follow the pleadings,” said the Judge, gravely, “the case seems to be hardly one for litigation, and I approve of the defendant’s course, while I strongly urge the plaintiff to accept it.”

Colonel Starbottle bent over his fair client.  Presently he rose, unchanged in look or demeanor.  “I yield, your Honor, to the wishes of my client, and—­er—­lady.  We accept.”