MY AUNT'S GREAT POLICE CASE. 239 



While animation, as it were, is being restored, Mr. Sharply 

 observes, rapidly, " Gentlemen, I regret the accident that 

 brings me here — I have a great deal of business in the other 

 Court which I haven't got through, and to which I must 

 return — Therefore, I am sure I may rely upon you, Gentle- 

 men, to assist in pushing on the business he7^e as quickly as 

 possible — Now, what is it?" 



This sudden interrogation is addressed to a Solicitor who 

 has risen in front of the Magistrate. 



The Solicitor will not, he says, detain the Magistrate one 

 second longer than he can help 



Here Mr. Sharply cuts him short with, " Well, well, what 

 is it ? What's the case ? " 



"The fact is," says the Solicitor, evidently not accustomed 

 to this way of doing business, " the fact is " — here he puts on 

 his spectacles — " that I have an application to make to you, 

 Sir,"— here he produces some papers, and IMr. Sharply, who 

 has been leaning forward on his elbows, as if to give him 

 every attention, now sets himself bolt upright again, as if de- 

 termined to do nothing of the sort. 



The SoHcitor continues, " It arises, Sir, out of an eject- 

 ment " 



This word sets Mr. Sharply off. 



"We really haven't any time for this. It must go to 

 another Court. Call the next case 1 " 



A Wavering Policeman, whose duty it is to call the 

 next case, looks from the Solicitor to the Magistrate, help- 

 lessly. 



The Sohcitor persists. " An assault, Sir, arising out of an 



