“You won’t mind accepting these things, Mr. Hayloft.  Our force would like very much to enable you to make a suitable appearance in the court.”

Carefully dressed and shaved, Hezekiah descended.  He was introduced to the leading officials of the force, and spent a pleasant hour of chat over a cigar, discussing the incidents of the night before.

In the course of the morning a number of persons called to meet and congratulate Hezekiah.

“I want to tell you, sir,” said the editor of a great American daily, “that your work of last night will be known and commented on all over the States.  Your shooting of the footman was a splendid piece of nerve, sir, and will do much in defence of the unwritten law.”

“Mr. Hayloft,” said another caller, “I am sorry not to have met you sooner.  Our friends here tell me that you have been in New York for some months.  I regret, sir, that we did not know you.  This is the name of my firm, Mr. Hayloft.  We are leading lawyers here, and we want the honour of defending you.  We may!  Thank you, sir.  And now, as we have still an hour or two before the court, I want to run you up to my house in my motor.  My wife is very anxious to have a little luncheon with you.”

The court met that afternoon.  There was a cheer as Hezekiah entered.

“Mr. Hayloft,” said the judge, “I am adjourning this court for a few days.  From what I hear the nerve strain that you have undergone must have been most severe.  Your friends tell me that you can hardly be in a state to take a proper interest in the case till you have had a thorough rest.”

As Hayloft left the court a cheer went up from the crowd, in which the judge joined.

The next few days were busy days for Hezekiah.  Filled with receptions, civic committees, and the preparation of the brief, in which Hezekiah’s native intelligence excited the admiration of the lawyers.

Newspaper men sought for interviews.  Business promoters called upon Hezekiah.  His name was put down as a director of several leading companies, and it was rumoured that in the event of his acquittal he would undertake a merger of all the great burglar protection corporations of the United States.

The trial opened a week later, and lasted two months.  Hezekiah was indicted on five charges—­arson, for having burned the steel cage of the elevator; misdemeanour, for shooting the footman; the theft of the money, petty larceny; the killing of the philanthropist, infanticide; and the shooting at the police without hitting them, aggravated felony.

The proceedings were very complicated—­expert evidence was taken from all over the United States.  An analytical examination was made of the brain of the philanthropist.  Nothing was found.

The entire jury were dismissed three times on the grounds of prejudice, twice on the ground of ignorance, and finally disbanded on the ground of insanity.