"Not they," said Jim; "I was let out on bail."
Miss Bird turned sharply round and glared into Jim's face.
"Are you the person referred to in that report?" she demanded.
"I am," said Jim.
A silence fell on the room. Even the dim-of-hearing Mr Cleave appreciated the situation, and understood that the lately arrived Dr Mortimer was identical with the prime villain of the "Pillory" that week.
"Pray continue, Mr Cleave," said Jefferson at length, with a curl of his lip; "I am sure Dr Mortimer does not mind."
Mr Cleave was bending over the paper again, when an interruption came from an unthought-of quarter. Mr Maybury rose to his feet.
"I do not think," he said, "that Mr Cleave had better proceed with his reading."
"Nonsense!" said Jefferson. "Go ahead, Mr Cleave."
"For the sake of the Cause, Mr Maybury," piped Cleave, "I wish to----"