In the pause that followed, the Magistrate’s eyes followed these lines indorsed on the cover of the paper thrust before him:
“Look out for the green-covered order in your hand. Suspect something fraudulent. Parties now in Court watching you. Am talking against time.”
Then the stillness of the room was broken by the Justice speaking in a constrained voice:
“The Court will now adjourn for recess. In the meantime, Mr. Martin, I will consider your brief.”
It was some days after the crowd had ceased discussing the way Blagden “got called down by Martin” that the latter wrote a short reply to the former’s long epistle.
“Mr. Martin respectfully acknowledges Judge Blagden’s letter of the 10th inst., and is gratified to learn that the warning was not wholly uncalled for. The Justice, however, may rest assured that he is under no obligation to Mr. Martin, whose sole concern in the matter was his honour—but not His Honour Charles Blagden.”