Mr. Gammon rose to the occasion and to his feet at one and the same time. He permitted the pleasing impression that Ridgwell had unconsciously created to have its full effect upon the Court, and upon everybody present with the exception of Mr. Learnéd Bore, whose countenance alone wore the disgusted and horrified expression that might have been expected had a great green toad been introduced into the witness-box. Mr. Learnéd Bore's countenance afforded a strange study of nausea struggling against outraged dignity.
"Now, Ridgwell, do you see any one in Court that you know?"
"Yes. Lal."
"And will you tell us who Lal is?" purred Mr. Gammon.
"Yes, Lal is the Pleasant-Faced Lion. There he is," said Ridgwell.
"How do you know his name is Lal?" inquired Counsel winningly.
"He told me so himself, it is short for Lionel. Lionel is his proper name."
"And when did this Lion Lal first speak to you?"
"Some weeks ago. The night I got lost in the fog."
This was altogether too much for Mr. Dreadful, K.C.