The coroner fiddled with some papers, put pince-nez on his nose and stared about the court. He had a big, flat face. He stared about. "Is the witness Sabre in attendance?"
The coroner's officer said, "Yes, sir."
Some one jogged Sabre. He stood up.
The coroner looked at him. "Are you legally represented?"
Sabre's mind played him the trick of an astoundingly clear recollection of the officer at the recruiting station who had asked him, and at whom he had wondered, "Any complaints?" He wondered now. He said, "Represented? No. Why should I be represented?"
The coroner turned to examine some papers. "That you may perhaps discover," he remarked drily.
The court tittered. The hunchbacked man, little more than whose huge head appeared above the table, laughed out loud and rubbed his hands between his knees and made a remark to Twyning. He seemed pleased that Sabre was not legally represented.
A man seated not far from the hunchback rose and bowed and said, "I am watching the interests of Mrs. Sabre."
Sabre started. Mrs. Sabre! Mabel!
The hunchback sprang to his feet and jerked a bow. "I represent Mr. Bright, the father of the deceased."