The Court-house emptied to a babel of talking and a burst of irrepressible laughter, and that was the end of the "Ellan Vannin." But the one ineffaceable effect of the incident, most material to this story, was that Alick Gell, who was still as innocent as the baby of a girl, had acquired a reputation for dark misdoings (especially with women) whereof anything might be expected in the future.
After the insular newspapers had dwelt with becoming severity on this aspect of the "distressing proceedings," the Speaker walked over in full-bearded dignity to remonstrate with the Deemster.
"Your son is dragging my lad down to the dirt," he said, "and before long I shall not be able to show my face anywhere."
"What do you wish me to do, Mr. Speaker?" asked the Deemster.
"Do? Do? I don't know what I want you to do," said the Speaker.
"I thought you didn't," said the Deemster, and then the full-bearded dignity disappeared.
Concerning Victor, although he had made the island laugh (the shortest cut to popularity), opinions were widely divided.
"There's only the breadth of a hair between that young man and a scoundrel," said Hudgeon, the advocate.
"Lave him rope and he'll hang himself," said Cæsar Qualtrough, from behind his pipe in the smoking-room of the Keys.
"Clever! Clever uncommon! But you'll see, you'll see," said the Speaker.