to put him there, he was so refractory in the guard's van.

_Judge._ That shows the advantages of this new way of going Circuit. A
dog-box is just the sort of receptacle for a person accused of murder
in the first class--I mean in the first degree. When do we get to
Blankchester Junction?

_Foreman._ In a quarter of an hour, m'lud, by my time-tables. And I
should like to say that most of the Jury wish to get out there--they
feel the oscillations of this carriage so much. If your Lordship would
sum up now--

_Judge_ (_with alacrity_). Quite so. Blankchester is a convenient
place for _me_ to alight, I think.

[_Sums up lucidly in about five minutes, and Jury at once
brings in verdict of Guilty of Manslaughter._

_Judge_ (_surprised_). Manslaughter, Gentlemen! Perhaps, after all, I
was wrong in not summing up in the Booking-Office. It would have given
time for more consideration. [_Awful collision occurs._

_Judge_ (_at bottom of an embankment_). Usher, Usher! I haven't
pronounced sentence yet! Bring the prisoner before me!

_Usher_ (_wounded_). Beg your Lordship's pardon--prisoner's escaped!

_Judge._ Escaped? Well, I can sentence him in his absence quite as
well. Oh, dear, my back _is_ bad! Those law-books came down on the top
of me, I believe. The sentence of the Court is that the prisoner be