his breast. He could at first have seen nothing, and could hardly have
known where he was when they placed him in a chair. She, with better
courage, contrived to look round through her veil, and saw that there
was a long board or table covered with green cloth, and that six or
seven gentlemen were sitting at one end of it, while there seemed to be
a crowd standing along the sides and about the room. Her husband was
seated at the other end of the table, near the corner, and round the
corner--so that she might be close to him--her chair had been placed. On
the other side of him there was another chair, now empty, intended for
any professional gentleman whom he might choose to employ.

There were five magistrates sitting there. Lord Lufton, from Framley,
was in the chair;--a handsome man, still young, who was very popular in
the county. The cheque which had been cashed had borne his signature,
and he had consequently expressed his intention of not sitting on the
board; but Mr Walker, desirous of having him there, had overruled him,
showing that the loss was not his loss. The cheque, if stolen, had not
been stolen from him. He was not the prosecutor. 'No, by Jove,' said
Lord Lufton, 'if I could quash the whole thing, I would do so at once!'

'You can't do that, my lord, but you may help us at the board,' said Mr
Walker.

Then there was the Hon George De Courcy, Lord De Courcy's brother, from
Castle Courcy. Lord De Courcy did not live in the county, but his
brother did so, and endeavoured to maintain the glory of the family by
the discretion of his conduct. He was not, perhaps, among the wisest of
men, but he did very well as a county magistrate, holding his tongue,
keeping his eyes open, and, on such occasions as this, obeying Mr Walker
in all things. Dr Tempest was also there, the rector of the parish, he