CHAPTER III. 



TO-MORROW ARRIVES — THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE— THE 

 CROWD— FEARS— INQUIRIES — OFFICIALS — UNFORTU- 

 NATE SIMILE — A PROSPECT — THE OFFICE — THE 

 CLERKS — THE INSPECTOR — MORE OFFICIALS — IN- 

 FORMATION — UNCERTAINTY — THE POLICE COURT — 

 INTERIOR — SEATS — THE RUM LADY — CONFIDENCES — 

 INTERESTING CASE— OLD PURKISS— THE ARRIVAL. 



LEVEN a CLOCK. We drive up to the 

 Police-Court, and get as near as we can to it ; 

 that is, the cab stops at the entrance of an alley, 

 and, down the alley, among a number of squalid 

 dwellings and opposite a flaring public-house, is the Police- 

 Court. 



" It's a shame," exclaims my Aunt, ^' that they don't build 

 finer places for Police-Courts !" 



She would have had a Palace of Justice specially erected 

 for this occasion. 



We come upon a crowd of unwashed people herding about 

 the entrance : women who have been having their eyes 

 blacked with a few strong touches, a little blue being artistic- 

 ally thrown in, and dissipated, unshaven ruffians lounging 

 against the walls, with the air of habitue's^ as no doubt they 



