obvious that the cause celebre of Meeson v.  Addison and Another would not want for hearers.  Indeed, Augusta and her friends soon realised the intensity of the public interest in a way that was as impressive as it was disagreeable, for just past the Admiralty Court the passage was entirely blocked by an enormous mass of barristers; there might have been five hundred or more of them.  There they were, choked up together in their white-wigged ranks, waiting for the door of the court to be opened.  At present it was guarded by six or eight attendants, who, with the help of a wooden barrier, attempted to keep the surging multitude at bay—­while those behind cried, “Forward!” and those in front cried “Back!”

“How on earth are we going to get through?” asked Augusta, and at that moment Mr. John Short caught hold of an attendant who was struggling about in the skirts of the crowd like a fly in a cup of tea, and asked him the same question, explaining that their presence was necessary to the show.

“I’m bothered if I know, Sir; you can’t come this way.  I suppose I must let you through by the underground passage from the other court.  Why,” he went on, as he led the way to the Admiralty Court, “hang me, if I don’t believe that we shall all be crushed to death by them there barristers:  It would take a regiment of cavalry to keep them back.  And they are a ’ungry lot, they are; and they ain’t no work to do, and that’s why they comes kicking and tearing and worriting just to see a bit of painting on a young lady’s shoulders.”

By this time they had passed through the Admiralty Court, which was not sitting, and been conducted down a sort of well, that terminated in the space occupied by the Judge’s clerks and other officers of the Court.  In another minute they found themselves emerging in a similar space in the other court.

Before taking the seat that was pointed out to her and the other witnesses in the well of the court, immediately below those reserved for Queen’s counsel, Augusta glanced round.  The body of the court was as yet quite empty, for the seething mob outside had not yet burst in, though their repeated shouts of “Open the door!” could be plainly heard.  But the jury box was full, not with a jury, for the case was to be tried before the Court itself, but of various distinguished individuals, including several ladies, who had obtained orders.  The little gallery above was also crowded with smart-looking people.  As for the seats devoted to counsel in the cause, they were crammed to overflowing with the representatives of the various defendants—­so crammed, indeed, that the wretched James Short, sole counsel for the plaintiff, had to establish himself and his papers in the centre of the third bench sometimes used by solicitors.

“Heavens!” said Eustace to Augusta, counting the heads; “there are twenty-three counsel against us.  What will that unfortunate James do against so many?”