The visiting goes on for an hour or more. Those prisoners who have friends come to see them stand in a row against these railings, and their friends opposite. As a matter of course, everyone is talking at once with his own friends, and the consequence is there is a constant clatter kept up during the whole of the time.
All are too interested in their own affairs to take any notice of what is going on between his neighbour and friend.
Peace exhorted his mother to procure the services of a counsel whom he named, and in whom he had great confidence.
“Be of good cheer, my dear boy,” said his parent, “I have already seen the gentleman you name, and he has promised to do his best for you.”
“That old catamaran will swear anything, I feel assured of that,” cried Peace. “But he’ll be able to bowl her out if you tell him what sort of customer he has to deal with—a she dragon, a very devil, that’s what she is.”
“Don’t lose your temper, Charlie. It’s no use doing that now you’re behind the bars.”
“I should like to—”
“Hush! don’t go on so—be patient,” interrupted his mother. “There, keep up your spirits; all will be well, I dare say.”
“They treat everybody in this place as if they were convicted felons.”
“It’s a burning shame, that’s what it is, but it’s no use making any complaint. If a fellow does that he gets worse served. I’ve done nothing against the laws, but it makes no difference. The biggest rogue gets the best of it in places of this sort.”