CHAPTER XIV. BERT STANDS TRIAL.

 Percy went to bed early, and heard nothing of Bert's arrest for the theft which he had himself committed till at the breakfast table the next morning his father said: "Well, young Barton has got into a bad scrape."

 

"What is it, father?" asked Percy, pricking¹ up his ears.

 

"He is charged with stealing a twenty-dollar bill from Mr. Jones, the store-keeper."93

 

This was certainly amazing, and Percy, in his agitation², nearly choked with some coffee that went the wrong way.

 

"Be more careful, Percy!" said his mother sharply.

 

"I was so surprised, mother, at what father told me," apologized Percy.

 

"I don't know why you need be surprised," said Mrs. Marlowe. "I never had a very good opinion of the boy."

 

"How did it happen?" asked Percy, curious to know how suspicion could have fallen upon Bert.

 

"It appears that Mr. Jones laid a twenty-dollar bill on his desk—a very careless proceeding³, by the way—while he was waiting upon a customer in another part of the store. About five minutes afterward⁴ the Barton boy called upon him to fill a small can with kerosene⁶, and actually had the hardihood to offer his own twenty-dollar bill in payment."

 

"Bert Barton offered Mr. Jones a twenty-dollar bill?" asked Percy, in great surprise.

 

"Yes; no wonder you are surprised at his boldness."

 

"Perhaps it wasn't the same bill," Percy was constrained⁷ to suggest.

 

"You must be a fool, Percy. Where else could he have got so large a bill as that? We94 all know how poor the Bartons are. Besides, the bill on the desk had disappeared."

 

Percy was silent for a moment. He felt bewildered, and could not understand it at all. He knew very well that it was not the same bill. But where did the other bill come from? How happened a poor boy like Bert Barton to have such a large bill in his possession? That was certainly mysterious.

 

"Was—was Bert arrested?" he asked, in a hesitating tone.

 

"He would have been but for the interference of a meddlesome⁸ young lawyer, who, it appears, is staying at the hotel."

 

"Mr. Conway?"

 

"I believe that is his name. He offered to defend the Barton boy, and would not permit him to be arrested."

 

Percy was glad to hear this. He was mean and selfish, but he was not mean enough to wish Bert to suffer for a crime of which he knew him to be innocent.

 

"What was done, then?" he asked, after a pause.

 

"The boy was allowed to go home, but his trial is to take place before me this morning at ten o'clock. You can be present, if you desire."

 

"I—don't—know as I do," said Percy.95

 

His father looked surprised.

 

"I thought you would be eager to be there," he said.

 

"I may come in," said Percy; "but I am sorry for Bert, and I should not like to see him under arrest."

 

"You are too good-hearted, Percy," said his mother. "I am sure I hope the boy did not do what is charged, though I don't think there is the slightest doubt of it; but if he is guilty I want him punished. That is the only way to protect the community from further thefts."

 

"What would mother say if she knew I did it?" thought Percy, shivering. "I wish I hadn't done it."

 

But it was too late to wish that. He had appropriated the money, and it had been paid away. Suppose Reginald Ward⁵ should betray him? Percy earnestly hoped that he would leave town before he had a chance to hear of the stolen money, for he felt certain that sharp young man would suspect him of having had something to do with it.

 

As the time drew near, Percy decided⁹ that he had better not attend the trial. He was afraid that some one would call to mind that he too had been standing¹⁰ near the desk just before the bill disappeared. He felt nervous96 and excited. He wished it was all over, and Bert was acquitted¹¹. Suppose he were found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment¹²? It would be terrible, Percy admitted to himself; but what could he do? He couldn't confess, and incur¹³ the same punishment himself. The very thought made him shudder¹⁴. He walked about the streets in a very uncomfortable frame of mind till about a quarter of ten. Then he suddenly encountered Bert, who, in company with his lawyer, was on his way to a room in the town hall where the trial was to take place. Bert held his head erect¹⁵, but his face was flushed with shame at the unpleasant predicament in which he found himself. When he saw Percy approaching he said to himself bitterly: "There is one who will rejoice at my misfortune."

 

What was his surprise, then, when Percy came up with a pleasant smile, and said, "Good-morning, Bert."

 

Bert looked at him sharply, to see if there was anything triumphant¹⁶ in his smile, but Percy's manner was cordial and friendly.

 

"Have you heard of my trouble, Percy?" asked Bert abruptly¹⁷.

 

"Yes, Bert, and I am very sorry for it."

 

"Do you believe me guilty?"97

 

"No, I don't," returned Percy, and he offered his hand.

 

"Thank you, Percy," said Bert, moved in spite of himself. "I misjudged you. If you don't believe me guilty, I hope others won't. Are you going to the trial?"

 

"I wasn't thinking of doing so, but I will walk with you as far as the town hall."

 

There was quite a crowd gathered near the entrance to the building, for it was generally known that Bert was to be tried for the theft that morning. Some of those composing it—in fact most—were Bert's friends; but there were a few who delighted in scandal and looked forward with eagerness to hearing the details, and did not care much how Bert might be affected¹⁸ by it.

 

The surprise was general when Bert approached, apparently¹⁹ in friendly converse²⁰ with Percy Marlowe, a boy whose want of cordial feeling toward him was generally known. The occasion was a trial for Bert, but Percy's unexpected friendliness²¹ sustained him, though he had not got over his surprise at it.

 

All parties entered the court-room, and presently Squire²² Marlowe himself appeared. He walked with dignity to the platform, and98 took his seat behind the desk over which justice was dispensed²³.

 

"Who is the complainant in this case?" he asked.

 

"I am, squire," said Mr. Jones, advancing eagerly.

 

"State your case."

 

"I charge this boy—Bert Barton—with stealing a twenty-dollar bill from my desk last evening."

 

"Have you counsel?"

 

"No, squire. The case is plain, and I can manage it myself."

 

"I represent the defendant²⁴," said the young lawyer Conway.

 

"You are a lawyer, are you?" asked Squire Marlowe, frowning.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Have you any evidence or certificate to show this?"

 

"I can prove it, if necessary; but I will venture to suggest that your doubts on the subject are very singular, and that, lawyer or no lawyer, I am at liberty to appear for the defendant if he desires it."

 

Squire Marlowe coughed and looked displeased²⁵ at this remark.

 

"State your case, Mr. Jones," he said, after the latter had been sworn.99

 

The grocer told the story as it happened, making it bear as heavily against Bert as possible.

 

"Do you wish to ask the witness any questions, Mr. Conway," inquired the judge.

 

"Yes, sir. Mr. Jones, what makes you think my client took your twenty-dollar bill?"

 

"It stands to reason—" commenced the grocer.

 

"Never mind about that! Please stick to facts."

 

"Well, the bill disappeared."

 

"Admitted. Go on."

 

"The Barton boy was standing near the desk."

 

"Did you see him take it?"

 

"No; how could I? My back was turned."

 

"This is important. Then, so far as your knowledge goes, any other person may have taken the bill."

 

"Didn't I tell you that the boy was brazen²⁶ enough to offer me the same bill in payment for some kerosene which I got for him?"

 

"You are very sure it was the same bill, are you, Mr. Jones?" asked Conway carelessly.

 

"Why, of course it was."

 

"That won't do! How can you prove it was?"

 

"Because," said the grocer triumphantly²⁷, "the bill I lost was a twenty-dollar bill, and the bill the boy offered me was a twenty-dollar bill," and Mr. Jones looked around the court-room with a complacent²⁸ and triumphant smile. Squire Marlowe, judge though he was, gave a little nod, as if to show that he, too, thought the argument was unanswerable. Even Bert's friends in the court-room glanced at each other gravely. It certainly looked bad for our hero.

1 pricking   

刺，刺痕，刺痛感

参考例句：

• She felt a pricking on her scalp. 她感到头皮上被扎了一下。
• Intercostal neuralgia causes paroxysmal burning pain or pricking pain. 肋间神经痛呈阵发性的灼痛或刺痛。

2 agitation   

n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动

参考例句：

• Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
• These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。

3 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

4 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

5 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

6 kerosene   

n.(kerosine)煤油，火油

参考例句：

• It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
• Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。

7 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

8 meddlesome   

adj.爱管闲事的

参考例句：

• By this means the meddlesome woman cast in a bone between the wife and the husband.这爱管闲事的女人就用这种手段挑起他们夫妻这间的不和。
• Get rid of that meddlesome fool!让那个爱管闲事的家伙走开！

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。

12 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

13 incur   

vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇

参考例句：

• Any costs that you incur will be reimbursed in full.你的所有花费都将全额付还。
• An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business.一个企业为了维持营业,就不得不承担一定的费用和开支。

14 shudder   

v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动

参考例句：

• The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材，他浑身一阵战栗。
• We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。

15 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

16 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

17 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

18 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

19 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

20 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

21 friendliness   

n.友谊，亲切，亲密

参考例句：

• Behind the mask of friendliness,I know he really dislikes me.在友善的面具后面，我知道他其实并不喜欢我。
• His manner was a blend of friendliness and respect.他的态度友善且毕恭毕敬。

22 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

23 dispensed   

v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• Not a single one of these conditions can be dispensed with. 这些条件缺一不可。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage. 他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

24 defendant   

n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的

参考例句：

• The judge rejected a bribe from the defendant's family.法官拒收被告家属的贿赂。
• The defendant was borne down by the weight of evidence.有力的证据使被告认输了。

25 displeased   

a.不快的

参考例句：

• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。
• He was displeased about the whole affair. 他对整个事情感到很不高兴。

26 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

27 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

28 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。