"If it please your honor, I am the poor duke's constable, and
my name is Elbow. I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in
here before your good honor two notorious benefactors."

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.


The efforts of the Solitary's friends to ward off the blow were
unavailing, and the perseverance of the constable was crowned with
success. Of course it was impossible for Holden to walk through
the streets of Hillsdale with such a companion without attracting
observation. Long before he reached the office, where he was to have
his trial, a crowd of idle boys was gathered at his heels, attending
in a sort of triumphal procession, and wondering what was to be done
with the prisoner. Basset had need of all his natural dignity, and
more than he could assume besides, to keep the little mob in
tolerable order. It is true the conduct of Holden, who, to the
great astonishment of the constable, followed him like a lamb to the
slaughter, made the task less difficult.

The place to which he was taken was no other than the office of
Ketchum, it not being usual for justices to have offices of their own,
the amount of business not warranting such an expense. On occasions
like the present it was customary for the lawyer who took charge of
the case to supply the court-room, and this, of course, was his
own office, as the most convenient place where law books and other
necessary instruments were at hand. Here, then, Holden was left by the
constable with Ketchum, the officer of the law meanwhile proceeding
to hunt up Squire Miller. During his absence, Ketchum addressed some