J.  N.  Stop a little; it is important that I should get an accurate note of this (writing).  Those who live in this metropolis must have their bowels drawn out—­is that right?

Pot.  This capital, he said, my lord.

J.  N. (writing).  This capital.  Well, well, well!  I cannot guess why the prisoner should be so infuriated against this metropolis.  Go on, Mr. Hungary.

Mr. H. (to witness).  Can you remember any other words he said?

Pot.  Yes; later on he said, “I hope to see the last Londoner hung in the guts of the last member of Parliament.”

J.  N.  Londoner, eh?

Pot.  Yes, my lord; that is, he meant Londoner.

J.  N.  You mustn’t say what he meant, you must say what you heard him say.

Pot.  Capital, my lord.

J.  N.  I see; (writing).  The last dweller in the metropolis.

Pot.  Capital, my lord.

J.  N.  Yes, exactly; that’s just what I’ve written—­this metropolis.

Pot.  He said capital, my lord.

Mr. H.  Capital, the witness says, my lord.

J.  N.  Well, doesn’t that mean the same thing?  I tell you I’ve got it down accurately.

J.  F. (who has been looking from one to the other with an amused smile, now says as if he were thinking aloud:) Well, I am damned! what a set of fools!

J.  N.  What is that you said, sir?  Have you no sense of decency, sir?  Are you pleading, or are you not pleading?  I have a great mind to have you removed.

J.  F. (laughing).  Oh, by all means remove me!  I didn’t ask to be here.  Only look here, I could set you right in three minutes if you only let me.

J.  N.  Do you want to ask the witness anything?  If not, sir, hold your tongue, sir.  No, sir; don’t speak, sir.  I can see that you are meditating bullying me; let me advise you, sir, not to try it.

Mr. H. (to POT.) Was that the only occasion on which you heard him speaking?

Pot.  No; I have heard him speaking in Hyde Park and saying much the same thing, and calling Mr. Justice Nupkins a damned old fool!

J.  N. (writing).  “A damned old fool!” Anything else?

Pot.  A blasted old cheat!

J.  N. (writing).  “A blasted old cheat!” (Cheerfully) Go on.

Pot.  Another time he was talking in a public-house with two men whom I understood to be members of the Fabian League.  He was having words with them, and one of them said, “Ah, but you forget the rent of ability”; and he said, “Damn the rent of ability, I will smash their rents of abilities.”

Mr. H.  Did you know what that meant?