"I'm afraid so, my lord, quite."
"Have you a doctor's certificate?"
"I am afraid not, my lord; he is not ill."
"Then you can renew the application later; but understand, I am determined to get through the list."
That was so like my lord; nothing would turn him from his resolution, if he sat till midnight, and I nearly barked with admiration.
Then came number six on the list, with the same complaint that it was not likely to be reached.
"I'm not so sure," said Sir Henry. "I have just refused number ten; yours is a long way before that. Some of the previous ones may go off very soon; there does not seem to be anything very long in front of you, Mr. ——. What's your difficulty about being here?"
"The real difficulty, my lord—" And as he hesitated the Judge said,—
"You want to be elsewhere?"
"Frankly, my lord, that is so."