The empty chair shifted, just perceptibly, with an air of complacency.
"Maybe they'll hang you," George replied hopefully from thin air.
"Don't be silly," Marc said. "There's no reason why they should. Come on, now, be a good fellow and help get this over with."
"Oh, I'm going to help get it over with," George said pleasantly. "When I'm through, they'll lower the boom on you so hard you'll be the first man in history to be buried in an envelope."
Just then Toffee leaned forward and touched Marc's arm. "The judge wants to speak to you," she said. "Come on, let's go."
Marc glanced around. "Did he call you too?"
"Well, no," Toffee admitted, "but I'm an interested party. I want to see that you get fair treatment."
"Couldn't you just stay out of it?" Marc pleaded. "Couldn't I just handle this myself?"
"Nonsense," Toffee said. "You need me. Come on, the old gaffer's beginning to look apoplectic again."
"Oh, all right," Marc sighed. Getting up he followed Toffee to a position before the bench. The judge glowered down at them critically.