During this little episode between the court and the Cracker’s wife, Madame Grace Ashley, arrayed in her most fashionable toilet, comes blazing into Court, bows to the Judge and a few of her most select friends of the Bar.  A seat for Madame is provided near his Honor’s desk.  His Honor’s blushes seem somewhat overtaxed; Madame, on the other hand, is not at all disconcerted; indeed, she claims an extensive acquaintance with the most distinguished of the Bar.

The Judge suggests to Mr. Stubbs that it would be as well to waive the charge against the clergyman.  Somewhat the worse for his night in the guard-house, Parson Patterson comes forward and commences in the most unintelligible manner to explain the whole affair, when the Judge very blandly interrupts by inquiring if he is a member of the clergy at this moment.  “Welle,” returns the parson, with characteristic drawl, “can’t zactly say I am.”  The natural seediness of the parson excites suspicion, nevertheless he is scrupulous of his white cravat, and preserves withal a strictly clerical aspect.  Having paused a few moments and exchanged glances with the Judge, he continues:  “I do nigger preaching on Sunday-that is (Parson Patterson corrects himself), I hold forth, here and there-we are all flesh and blood-on plantations when I have a demand for my services.  Our large planters hold it good policy to encourage the piety of their property.”

“You make a good thing of it?” inquires the Judge, jocosely.  The parson replies, with much meekness of manner, that business is not so good as it was, planters having got it into their heads that sermons can be got at a very low figure.  Here he commences to explain his singular position.  He happened to meet an old and much-esteemed friend, whom he accompanied home, and while spending the evening conversing on spiritual matters-it was best not to lie-he took a little too much.  On his way to the hotel he selected Beresford street as a short cut, and being near the house where he was unfortunately found when the shooting took place, he ran into it to escape the police—­”

“Don’t believe a word he says,” interrupts Madame Ashley, springing suddenly to her feet, and commencing to pour out her phials of wrath on the head of the poor parson, whom she accuses of being a suspicious and extremely unprofitable frequenter of her house, which she describes as exceedingly respectable.  “Your Honor can bear me out in what I say!” pursues Madame, bowing with an air of exultation, as the sheriff demands order.

“A sorry lot, these plantation preachers!  Punish him right soundly, your honor.  It is not the first time he has damaged the respectability of my house!” again interrupts Madame Ashley.  His Honor replies only with a blush.  Mr. Snivel, who watches with quisical countenance, over the bar, enjoys the joke wonderfully.

Order being restored, the Judge turns to address the parson.

“I see, my friend-I always address my prisoners familiarly-you place but little value on the fact of your being a clergyman, on the ground that you only preach to slaves.  This charge brought against you is a grave one-I assure you!  And I cannot incline to the view you take of your profession.  I may not be as erudite as some; however, I hold it that the ignorant and not the learned have most need of good example.”