“Oh, leave him to me,” replied Mr. Williams.
Soon after this the following puppy came into the room. A gentleman of commanding figure, erect but easy, with a head of remarkable symmetry and an eye like a stag's. He entered the room quietly but rather quickly, and with an air of business; bowed rapidly to the three gentlemen in turn, and waited in silence their commands.
Then Mr. Williams drew himself up in his chair, and wore the solemn and dignified appearance that becomes a judge trying a prisoner, with this difference, that his manner was not harsh or intentionally offensive, but just such as to reveal his vast superiority and irresistible weight.
In a solemn tone, with a touch of pity, he began thus:
“I am sorry to say, Mr. Eden, that grave charges are laid against you in the prison.”
“Give yourself no uneasiness on my account, sir,” replied Mr. Eden politely, “they are perhaps false.”
“Yet they come from one who has means of knowing—from the governor, Mr. Hawes.”
“Ah! then they are sure to be false.”
“We shall see. Four Sundays ago you preached a sermon.”
“Two.”