“Yes, sir. Me an’ mi feyther.”
“Exactly; your venerable and respected father was with you. What were you doing there?”
“We’d gone to see how pigs went.”
“And did you see the prisoner there?”
“We did.”
“You mean you did. You mustn’t tell us what your father saw. He’ll speak for himself.”
“Beg pardon, sir.”
“Had you known the prisoner before?”
“This many a year. I’ve had my eyes on him a long time.” And here Tom shot a venomous look at Ephraim, who stood in the dock looking as pleasant as though he was at his own wedding, and who acknowledged Tom’s look by a beaming and encouraging smile.
“Most unbecoming levity,” I heard one of the magistrates whisper to a brother justice.