“Silence!” cried the Squire. “I am in charge of this court!”
He dimly remembered once being at a trial where a lawyer made such a demand, and the judge granted it. Squire Perkfell prided himself on knowing law, and he wanted to do what was right, so he said:
“Very well, your request is granted. But you must talk to the prisoner in this room. You may withdraw to a corner.”
“That will do,” assented Mr. Harrison, and he led Dan to a part of the room where he could converse with him quietly. The two constables watched him narrowly. Dan told his friend all the events of the night ride, including the finding of the spoon, and the actions of the mysterious men. Then he led the boy back to his seat, and spoke to the Squire.
“We are ready to proceed,” he said.
“Who is the first witness?” asked the justice, who, in the meanwhile, had been asking Constable Wolff more about the case.
“Si Martin,” answered Jacob Wolff, who had assumed the role of prosecutor. “He discovered the robbery.”
“Silas Martin, step forward,” called the Squire, and the doctor’s hired man, blushing like a girl, shambled to the desk.
“Now tell the Court what you know.”
“I don’t know nothin’ about it. I didn’t see Dan steal anythin’. I don’t believe he done it. Neither does Dr. Maxwell, an’ he told me t’ say so. He’s comin’ here as soon as he can.”