"Old man—"
"I ain't quite through yit, Jedge. The neighbors knowd that I made licker when I wanted to an' they never said nuthin', but lately a scoundrel took it into his head to give me trouble. Fust he wanted to marry my daughter an' then he threatened that unless I'd give him a thousand dollars—but, Jedge, I'd seen him in hell fust!"
"You must not use such language, Mr. Starbuck. You are before the law."
"Excuse me, suh, excuse me. Wall, an' they brought me down here, an' here I am. That's all, Jedge."
The Judge arose. "Old man, you are a patriot, from a race of patriots, and in my heart, I can hardly—"
There came a rap at the door. Foster opened it and Margaret rushed into the room.
"Jasper!" she cried, running to him.
He put his arm about her. "Margaret, how did you get away down here?"
"Mr. Starbuck," the Judge began, but with a pleading gesture the old man cut him off. "Please don't say nothin' mo' while she's in here."