That artistic falter produced another effect also. The gangways of the court were crowded with the usual throng of idle folk, assembled to hear Mr. Naylor's cross-examination; and as the plaintiff bore witness to the bonds of love which bound him to his father there came from the recesses of the crowd a voice, which said:
"That there is! Let me through! Who's saying my boy doesn't love his old father?"
The group of people parted; and an elderly man came to the front, advancing in an uncertain, apologetic manner.
"Silence! silence!" cried the usher, a world of pained indignation in his accents.
"You mustn't disturb the court, sir!" thundered the judge.
"I came to speak a word for Joe. I was passing, and dropped in, and, seeing Joe, I made bold to speak. He's been a good son, has Joe."
"Who is Joe, and who is this person?" And getting no answer, he turned to the plaintiff. Young Mr. Pippitt met his eye with an uneasy smile.
"I haven't the least idea, my lord," he said.
"No, it--yes--that is, certainly, my lord."
"You don't seem very sure, sir," remarked the judge; and he added, addressing the intruder, "Who are you, sir?"
The old man seemed in a nervous and broken-down condition; but he stammered out, "He's my son, my son, my lord."
"Hold your tongue till you're asked to speak," said his lordship snappishly. "I want to hear what this man has to say."
The old man had much to say: much of young Mr. Pippitt's virtue, industry, and much of his own fortunes, misfortunes, and wrongs. He usurped the functions of both lawyer and witness, and all the court listened to him.
"I'm glad to be here, gentlemen," he said--"glad to be here. I thought I was never going to get out of that cell they put me in, not for long years. But here I am, Joe, thank God!"
"Who put you in a cell?" asked the judge.
"I'm telling you as fast as I can," answered the old man petulantly. "I'd just written to Joe to send him a bit of money and tell him to look out for me, when they brought a charge of fraud against me--against me, a respectable merchant. And I was tried: tried and found guilty--unjustly, my lord--and sentenced to five years. To think of it! They didn't know me out in Louisiana; no east-coast jury would have convicted."