"No, sir; you see, Teddy didn't come in town till this mornin', an' he never knew Skip from a side of sole-leather."
"Is he a friend of yours?"
"Well, I s'pose he is," Carrots replied, hesitatingly. "You see, when he got into trouble, somebody had to help him out, an' there didn't seem to be anybody willin' but me. He ought ter be my friend if I'm goin' to black the lawyer's boots a whole year jest to pay for this racket."
"If your honor will allow me, I will tell the story as I have managed to extract it—I use the word 'extract' advisedly—from this witness and his friend," the lawyer said, as he advanced a few paces amid the smiles of all those near the bench.
"Do you wish to explain about your fee?" the judge asked, laughingly.
"Perhaps that is hardly necessary, since lawyers are seldom known to refuse anything offered in the way of payment. That was the proposition made by the witness and witnessed by his friend."
Then the attorney related what had occurred in his office, to the no slight amusement of those who could hear him; and, when he concluded, the judge turned to Carrots again, looking very much more friendly than before.
"Then you assure me on your oath that the prisoner did not fight with the other boy in City Hall Park?"
"Why, no; how could he? He didn't get the chance. You see, Skip hit him in the face, an' then come in with a left-hander; but Teddy warded it off, and then Skip run. The policeman grabbed Teddy too quick, you see. I reckon he'd have paid Skip off in great shape, 'cause I b'lieve he can do it."
"Then you admit that he would have fought if he had had the opportunity?"