“You are a very fortunate young man,” he said.  He laid his hand upon a pile of letters.  “When you were your own worst enemy, your friends came to help you.  These letters speak for you; your employers, whom you robbed, have pleaded with me in your favor.  It is urged, in your behalf, that at the time you committed the crime of which you are found guilty, you were intoxicated.  In the eyes of the law, that is no excuse.  Some men can drink and keep their senses.  It appears you can not.  When you drink you are a menace to yourself—­and, as is shown by this crime, to the community.  Therefore, you must not drink.  In view of the good character to which your friends have testified, and on the condition that you do not touch liquor, I will not sentence you to jail, but will place you in charge of the probation officer.”

The judge leaned back in his chair and beckoned to Mr. Andrews.  It was finished.  Spear was free, and from different parts of the court-room people were moving toward the door.  Their numbers showed that the friends of the young man had been many.  Mr. Thorndike felt a certain twinge of disappointment.  Even though the result relieved and pleased him, he wished, in bringing it about, he had had some part.

He begrudged to Isaacs & Sons the credit of having given Spear his liberty.  His morning had been wasted.  He had neglected his own interests, and in no way assisted those of Spear.  He was moving out of the railed enclosure when Andrews called him by name.

“His honor,” he said impressively, “wishes to speak to you.”

The judge leaned over his desk and shook Mr. Thorndike by the hand.  Then he made a speech.  The speech was about public-spirited citizens who, to the neglect of their own interests, came to assist the ends of justice, and fellow-creatures in misfortune.  He purposely spoke in a loud voice, and every one stopped to listen.

“The law, Mr. Thorndike, is not vindictive,” he said.  “It wishes only to be just.  Nor can it be swayed by wealth or political or social influences.  But when there is good in a man, I, personally, want to know it, and when gentlemen like yourself, of your standing in this city, come here to speak a good word for a man, we would stultify the purpose of justice if we did not listen.  I thank you for coming, and I wish more of our citizens were as unselfish and public-spirited.”

It was all quite absurd and most embarrassing, but inwardly Mr. Thorndike glowed with pleasure.  It was a long time since any one had had the audacity to tell him he had done well.  From the friends of Spear there was a ripple of applause, which no tipstaff took it upon himself to suppress, and to the accompaniment of this, Mr. Thorndike walked to the corridor.  He was pleased with himself and with his fellow-men.  He shook hands with Isaacs & Sons, and congratulated them upon their public spirit, and the typewriter firm upon their public spirit.  And then he saw Spear standing apart regarding him doubtfully.