those extraordinary twins-第7章

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other；　and　I　give　you　my　word　that　at　least　one　of　the　two　shall　be
delivered　by　one　of　the　twins　alone；　without　the　slightest　assistance
from　his　brother。　　Watch　sharply；　for　you　have　of　to　render　a　decision
without　any　if's　and　ands　it。〃　　Rogers　bent　himself　behind　the　twins　with
palms　just　above　his　knees；　in　the　modern　attitude　of　the　catcher　at　a
baseball　match；　and　riveted　eyes　on　the　pair　of　legs　in　front　of　him。

〃Are　you　ready；　Mr。　　Rogers？〃

〃Ready　sir。〃

The　kick；　launched。

〃Have　you　got　that　one　classified；　Mr。　　Rogers？〃

〃Let　me　study　a　minute；　sir。〃

〃Take　as　much　time　as　you　please。　　Let　me　know　when　you　are　ready。〃

For　as　much　as　a　minute　Rogers　pondered；　with　all　eyes　and　a　breathless
interest　fastened　upon　him。　　Then　he　gave　the　word：　〃Ready；　sir。〃

〃Kick！〃

The　kick　that　followed　was　an　exact　duplicate　of　the　first　one。

〃Now；　then；　Mr。　　Rogers；　one　of　those　kicks　was　an　individual　kick；　not　a
mutual　one。　　You　will　now　state　positively　which　was　the　mutual　one。〃

The　witness　said；　with　a　crestfallen　look：

〃I've　got　to　give　it　up。　　There　ain't　any　man　in　the　world　that　could
tell　t'other　from　which；　sir。〃

〃Do　you　still　assert　that　last　night's　kick　was　a　mutual　kick？〃

〃Indeed；　I　don't；　sir。〃

〃That　will　do；　Mr。　　Rogers。　　If　my　brother　Allen　desires　to　address　the
court；　your　honor；　very　well；　but　as　far　as　I　am　concerned　I　am　ready　to
let　the　case　be　at　once　delivered　into　the　hands　of　this　intelligent　jury
without　comment。〃

Mr。　　Justice　Robinson　had　been　in　office　only　two　months；　and　in　that
short　time　had　not　had　many　cases　to　try；　of　course。　　He　had　no　knowledge
of　laws　and　courts　except　what　he　had　picked　up　since　he　came　into
office。　　He　was　a　sore　trouble　to　the　lawyers；　for　his　rulings　were
pretty　eccentric　sometimes；　and　he　stood　by　them　with　Roman　simplicity
and　fortitude；　but　the　people　were　well　satisfied　with　him；　for　they　saw
that　his　intentions　were　always　right；　that　he　was　entirely　impartial；
and　that　he　usually　made　up　in　good　sense　what　he　lacked　in　technique；
so　to　speak。　　He　now　perceived　that　there　was　likely　to　be　a　miscarriage
of　justice　here；　and　he　rose　to　the　occasion。

〃Wait　a　moment；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　plain　that　an　assault　has
been　committed　it　is　plain　to　anybody；　but　the　way　things　are　going；　the
guilty　will　certainly　escape　conviction。　　I　can　not　allow　this。　　Now…〃

〃But；　your　honor！〃　said　Wilson；　interrupting　him；　earnestly　but
respectfully；　〃you　are　deciding　the　case　yourself；　whereas　the　jury〃

〃Never　mind　the　jury；　Mr。　Wilson；　the　jury　will　have　a　chance　when　there
is　a　reasonable　doubt　for　them　to　take　hold　ofwhich　there　isn't；
so　far。　　There　is　no　doubt　whatever　that　an　assault　has　been　committed。
The　attempt　to　show　that　both　of　the　accused　committed　it　has　failed。
Are　they　both　to　escape　justice　on　that　account？　　Not　in　this　court；
if　I　can　prevent　it。　　It　appears　to　have　been　a　mistake　to　bring　the
charge　against　them　as　a　corporation；　each　should　have　been　charged　in
his　capacity　as　an　individual；　and〃

〃But；　your　honor！〃　said　Wilson；　〃in　fairness　to　my　clients　I　must　insist
that　inasmuch　as　the　prosecution　'd　not　separate　the〃

〃No　wrong　will　be　done　your　clients；　sirthey　will　be　protected；
also　the　public　and　the　offended　laws。　　Mr。　Allen；　you　will　amend　your
pleadings；　and　put　one　of　the　accused　on　trial　at　a　time。〃

Wilson　broke　in：　〃But；　your　honor！　this　is　wholly　unprecedented！
To　imperil　an　accused　person　by　arbitrarily　altering　and　widening　the
charge　against　him　in　order　to　compass　his　conviction　when　the　charge　as
originally　brought　promises　to　fail　to　convict；　is　a　thing　unheard　of
before。〃

〃Unheard　of　where？〃

〃In　the　courts　of　this　or　any　other　state。〃

The　judge　said　with　dignity：　〃I　am　not　acquainted　with　the　customs　of
other　courts；　and　am　not　concerned　to　know　what　they　are。　　I　am
responsible　for　this　court；　and　I　cannot　conscientiously　allow　my
judgment　to　be　warped　and　my　judicial　liberty　hampered　by　trying　to
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　seeit　seems　to　me；　somehow