"That is sufficient, sir. You acknowledge that you came in to-night an hour late, in a condition unfitting an employee of the government?"
"I was late, sir, on account of coming over a path through the wilderness of the Greenbrier district."
"Does Uncle Sam say that you are to carry his treasures through the wilderness?"
"No, sir. But I want to explain how I was obliged to come that way if I got here at all."
"It is not necessary."
"It seems to me," said Mr. Rimmon, "and I have more interest in that matter than any one present, that it is not only necessary, but an act of justice to the court itself that your honor listen to Mr. Lewis' account. He came over the mountains by a tedious footpath, not from choice, but from necessity. He deserves our praise rather than our condemnation for his heroic conduct. If our road surveyors had done their duty, his duty would have been easy."
"Let me speak," cried the hermit, at this juncture. "It was all an infamous scheme——"
"Order!" thundered the court. "We can't be broken into by a mad fool. Put him out if necessary, Mr. Brady."
"Another word, and I'll pitch you into the road," said the sheriff.
Old Solitaire showed that he was laboring under great excitement, though he did not offer to speak.