“There,” said the officer with relish, “there the Grand Jury has the first go at you, see?”
“They can throw out the Bill?”
“They can,” admitted the other grudgingly, “but bless my soul,” with a return to cheerfulness, “they won’t in your case. Then, in what you may term due course, on comes your case. See? You can either defend yourself—”
“I shall.”
“You know the old saying, I s’pose?”
“Never mind the old saying,” replied Erb. “Get on!”
“Then, of course, if you’re fool enough to conduct your own case, you’ll be fool enough to cross-examine the witnesses for the other side.”
“I shall,” said Erb.
“And a fine old mess you’ll make of it,” remarked the warrant-officer, laughing uproariously. “Lord! I’d give an ounce of shag to be in court when it comes off.”
“I’ll see that it comes off.”