"Simon Pettigrew," called the Clerk.
Simon rose and followed Horn. Instructed by Julia to say nothing, he said nothing.
Then Pugeot rose.
"I beg your pardon," said Pugeot; "you have got my friend's name wrong. Pattigraw, please; he's a Frenchman, though long resident in England; and it's not Simon—but Sigismond."
"Rectify the charge-sheet," said Colonel Grouse. "First witness."
Simon, dazed, and horrified as a solicitor by this line of action, tried to speak, but failed. The brilliant idea of Julia's, taken up with enthusiasm by Pugeot, was evidently designed to fool the newspaper men and save the name of Simon the Solicitor. Still, it was horrible, and he felt as though Pugeot were trying to carry him pick-a-back across an utterly impossible bridge.
He guessed now why this had been sprung on him. They knew that as a lawyer he would never have agreed to such a statement.
Then Copper, hoisting himself into the witness-stand, hitching his belt and kissing the Testament, began:
"I swear before A'mighty Gawd that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me Gawd, Amen on the evening of the 16th pursuin' my beat by Porter's Meadows I see defendant in the company of Horn——"