Longly eyed him from head to foot, while, by a slouching motion of his head, he caused his pigtail to project at full length, straight out over the collar of his jacket, and ejecting a considerable portion of tobacco-juice upon the Turkey carpet, he replied, "So you call yourself a sailor, do ye, you lubber?"
Everard Morrison instantly interfered. "You forget, sir," he said, turning to the officer, "that in this room you have no authority, and that it does not become you to bring a charge which you cannot sustain. Sir Francis Tyrrell is the person to interfere, if Mr. Longly does anything that is amiss, and Mr. Longly has, I know, too much respect for him not to bow at once to his decision."
Charles Tyrrell felt proud of his friend, and perhaps Morrison was himself in some degree affected by the knowledge that he was acting in the presence of Charles Tyrrell.
Into the particulars of the examination that ensued, it is not, perhaps, needful to enter minutely; at all events, not till we come to the case of the fisherman, John Hailes, and of another, whom the young lawyer set apart with him, in consequence of the answers which he seemed to receive from them. It appeared very clear, as a matter of fact, though perhaps not quite clearly proved, that William Hailes, the elder brother of the fisherman, had had a considerable share in smuggling the goods which had been seized. There were four or five other men similarly situated; and as their cases were gone through, one after the other, Charles Tyrrell could not help feeling convinced, though very willing to believe them innocent, that sufficient grounds existed for their committal, although he doubted whether a condemnation would follow.
In regard to the last of these men, however, a dispute arose which called forth his interference. None of the men had attempted any defence or said anything, apparently acting under the directions of their lawyer. But the last of this party was very anxious to vindicate himself, and one of the constables seemed as anxious to prove him guilty. The man said more than was necessary, certainly, upon his own cause, and the constable who had taken him, standing beside him, chose to comment on his words, and endeavoured to embarrass him even while under examination before the magistrates.
Morrison then interposed, saying, "You had better stand back, constable, and let the accuser answer for himself. Remember, Wilson, you are not bound to say anything; and, if you take my advice, you will be silent. Stand back, constable, I say; you are interfering in an improper manner."
"Come, come, Master Morrison," cried the constable, who was one of a sturdy, bull-headed race of men, even at that time forming a peculiar class in the peasantry of England, but who have since increased and multiplied to an amazing degree under the fostering care of new game-laws and parish unions; "Come, come, Master Morrison, give us none of your sauce I have as much right to meddle as you have, every bit, so stand back yourself, for I sha'n't for none of you."
Morrison was turning coolly to appeal to the magistrates, being accustomed to meet insolence of various kinds, and to deal with it tranquilly. But such was not the case with Charles Tyrrell, who was sitting at the moment at one end of the table, close to the prisoners, as they were brought up one by one before the magistrate; and fixing his eye upon the constable with a heightened colour, he said, "Stand back!"
The man looked at him for an instant, as if irresolute; but then replied, with dogged determination, "No, I sha'n't stand back!" and, almost before the words were out of his mouth, he was grasped by the collar of his coat, and sent reeling back into the midst of the group behind him, with a countenance flaming with rage and discomfited insolence.
"Charles, Charles," said Sir Francis Tyrrell, "command yourself, sir; command yourself; such a display of violence and passion is very unbecoming."