“Lignum vitæ,” nods Magpie.
“Exactly,” says the judge. “You stated the case, Magpie. Who is the lady in the case?”
“Name’s Incognito,” says Telescope. “Incognity, alias Harrison.”
“Hah!” says the judge, serious-like. “This will need finesse. I shall go over to the hotel and have speech with the maid.”
I reckon he got in in the name of the law, too, but anyway he got in. Me and Muley went out and sat on the sidewalk, when here comes Mrs. Steele and Mrs. Wick Smith.
“Have you seen anything of the judge?” asks Mrs. Steele.
“Yeah,” nods Muley. “He went over to Holt’s to see a lady.”
“Oh!” says Mrs. Steele, looking at Mrs. Smith.
“Men,” says Mrs. Smith, “men are considerable alike, and a judge ain’t no different than the rest.”
“That old cormorant?” explodes Mrs. Steele. “The only difference is—he’s worse.”