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conform to the caprices of other courts； be they〃
〃But； your honor； the oldest and highest courts in Europe〃
〃This court is not run on the European plan； Mr。 Wilson； it is not run on
any plan but its own。 It has a plan of its own； and that plan is；
to find justice for both State and accused； no matter what happens to be
practice and custom in Europe or anywhere else。〃 （Great applause。）
〃Silence！ It has not been the custom of this court to imitate other
courts； it has not been the custom of this court to take shelter behind
the decisions of other courts； and we will not begin now。 We will do the
best we can by the light that God has given us； and while this 'court
continues to have His approval； it will remain indifferent to what other
organizations may think of it。〃 （Applause。） 〃Gentlemen； I must have
order！quiet yourselves！ Mr。 Allen； you will now proceed against the
prisoners one at a time。 Go on with the case。〃
Allen was not at his ease。 However； after whispering a moment with his
client and with one or two other people； he rose and said：
〃Your honor； I find it to be reported and believed that the accused are
able to act independently in many ways； but that this independence does
not extend to their legs； authority over their legs being vested
exclusively in the one brother during a specific term of days； and then
passing to the other brother for a like term； and so on； by regular
alternation。 I could call witnesses who would prove that the accused had
revealed to them the existence of this extraordinary fact； and had also
made known which of them was in possession of the legs yesterdayand
this would； of course； indicate where the guilt of the assault belongs
but as this would be mere hearsay evidence； these revelations not having
been made under oath〃
〃Never mind about that； Mr。 Allen。 It may not all be hearsay。 We shall
see。 It may at least help to put us on the right track。 Call the
witnesses。〃
〃Then I will call Mr。 John Buckstone； who is now present； and I beg that
Mrs。 Patsy Cooper may be sent for。 Take the stand； Mr。 Buckstone。〃
Buckstone took the oath； and then testified that on the previous evening
the Count Angelo Capello had protested against going to the hall； and had
called all present to witness that he was going by compulsion and would
not go if he could help himself。 Also； that the Count Luigi had replied
sharply that he would go； just the same； and that he； Count Luigi； would
see to that himself。 Also； that upon Count Angelo's complaining about
being kept on his legs so long； Count Luigi retorted with apparent
surprise； 〃Your legs！I like your impudence！〃
〃Now we are getting at the kernel of the thing；〃 observed the judge； with
grave and earnest satisfaction。 〃It looks as if the Count Luigi was in
possession of the battery at the time of the assault。〃
Nothing further was elicited from Mr。 Buckstone on direct examination。
Mr。 Wilson took the witness。
〃Mr。 Buckstone； about what time was it that that conversation took
place？〃
〃Toward nine yesterday evening； sir。〃
〃Did you then proceed directly to the hall？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃How long did it take you to go there？〃
〃Well； we walked； and as it was from the extreme edge of the town； and
there was no hurry； I judge it took us about twenty minutes； maybe a
trifle more。〃
〃About what hour was the kick delivered？〃
〃About thirteen minutes and a half to ten。〃
〃Admirable！ You are a pattern witness； Mr。 Buckstone。 How did you
happen to look at your watch at that particular moment？〃
〃I always do it when I see an assault。 It's likely I shall be called as
a witness； and it's a good point to have。〃
〃It would be well if others were as thoughtful。 Was anything said；
between the conversation at my house and the assault； upon the detail
which we are now examining into？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃If power over the mutual legs was in the possession of one brother at
nine； and passed into the possession of the other one during the next
thirty or forty minutes； do you think you could have detected the
change？〃
〃By no means！〃
〃That is all； Mr。 Buckstone。〃
Mrs。 Patsy Cooper was called。 The crowd made way for her； and she came
smiling and bowing through the narrow human lane； with Betsy Hale； as
escort and support； smiling and bowing in her wake； the audience breaking
into welcoming cheers as the old favorites filed along。 The judge did
not check this kindly demonstration of homage and affection； but let it
run its course unrebuked。
The old ladies stopped and shook hands with the twins with effusion； then
gave the judge a friendly nod； and bustled into the seats provided for
them。 They immediately began to deliver a volley of eager questions at
the friends around them： 〃What is this thing for？〃 〃What is that thing
for？〃 〃Who is that young man that's writing at the desk？ Why； I
declare； it's Jack Bunce！ I thought he was sick。〃 〃Which is the jury？
Why； is that the jury？ Billy Price and Job Turner； and Jack Lounsbury；
andwell； I never！〃 〃Now who would ever 'a' thought〃
But they were gently called to order at this point； and asked not to talk
in court。 Their tongues fell silent； but the radiant interest in their
faces remained； and their gratitude for the blessing of a new sensation
and a novel experience still beamed undimmed from their eyes。 Aunt Patsy
stood up and took the oath； and Mr。 Allen explained the point in issue；
and asked her to go on now； in her own way； and throw as much light upon
it as she could。 She toyed with her reticule a moment or two； as if
considering where to begin； then she said：
〃Well； the way of it is this。 They are Luigi's legs a week at a time；
and then they are Angelo's； and he can do whatever he wants to with
them。〃
〃You are making a mistake； Aunt Patsy Cooper；〃 said the judge。 〃You
shouldn't state that as a fact； because you don't know it to be a fact。〃
〃What's the reason I don't？〃 said Aunt Patsy； bridling a little。
〃What is the reason that you do know it？〃
〃The best in the world because they told me。〃
〃That isn't a reason。〃
〃Well； for the land's sake！ Betsy Hale； do you hear that？〃
〃Hear it？ I should think so；〃 said Aunt Betsy； rising and facing the
court。 〃Why； Judge； I was there and heard it myself。 Luigi says to
Angelono； it was Angelo said it to〃
〃Come； come； Mrs。 Hale； pray sit down； and〃
〃Certainly； it's all right； I'm going to sit down presently； but not
until I've〃
〃But you must sit down！〃
〃Must！ Well； upon my word if things ain't getting to a pretty pass
when〃
The house broke into laughter； but was promptly brought to order； and
meantime Mr。 Allen persuaded the old lady to take her seat。 Aunt Patsy
continued：
〃Yes； they told me that； and I know it's true。 They're Luigi's legs this
week； but〃
〃Ah； they told you that； did they？〃 said the Justice； with interest。
〃Well； no； I don't know that they told me； but that's neither here nor
there。 I know； without that； that at dinner yesterday； Angelo was as
tired as a dog； and yet Luigi wouldn't lend him the legs to go up…stairs
and take a nap with。〃
〃Did he ask for them？〃
〃Let me