A copy of this complaint had been given to Ronald in the morning, that he might know precisely what points he had got to meet. He at first doubted whether it would be right to plead not guilty to all the charges, as he admitted that he played the joke upon Otis, referred to in the first charge. But Marcus explained that while he admitted the acts specified, he might if he chose deny the bad character ascribed to them in the complaint. He said that if Ronald did not believe his April-fool trick upon Otis was “unjustifiable,” and “against the peace, dignity and good order of the family,” he had a moral as well as legal right to plead not guilty to the complaint. Accordingly, when the complaint was read in court, and the judge asked the accused whether he was guilty or not guilty, the reply was, “Not guilty.”
The witnesses were now introduced. Otis first appeared, and related all that he knew about the trick that had been played upon him. After he had got through, Ronald put a few questions to him.
“Do you generally know what is going on when you are sound asleep?” inquired the accused.
“No,” replied the witness.
“How, then, do you know that I did the mischief?”
“Because—because I know you did it.”
“Did you see me do it?”
“No.”
“Did you hear me?”
“No.”