“You are keen, sir, but—you are in the right; and you, Mr. Hawes, will be here to correct his errors and to make your own statement after he has done in half an hour.”
“Ah! well,” thought Hawes, “he can't do me much harm in half an hour.”
“Begin, sir!” and he looked at his watch.
“Mr. Hawes, I want your book; the log-book of the prison.”
“Get it, Mr. Hawes, if you please.”
Mr. Hawes went out.
“Mr. Williams, are these the Prison Rules by Act of Parliament?” and he showed him the paper.
“They are, sir.”
“Examine them closely, Mr. Lacy; they contain the whole discipline of this prison as by law established. Keep them before you. It is with these you will have to compare the jailer's acts. And now, how many times is the jailer empowered to punish any given prisoner?”
“Once—on a second offense the prisoner, I see, is referred for punishment to the visiting justices.”