CHAPTER XIII — IN THE COURT-ROOM

 It was decided¹ that Luke should remain until his trial in the personal custody² of Constable³ Perkins. Except for the name of it, his imprisonment⁴ was not very irksome, for the Perkins family treated him as an honored guest, and Mrs. Perkins prepared a nicer supper than usual. When Mr. Perkins went out he said to his wife, with a quizzical smile: "I leave Luke in your charge. Don't let him run away."

 

"I'll look out for that," said Mrs. Perkins, smiling.

 

"Perhaps I had better leave you a pistol, my dear?"

 

"I am afraid I should not know how to use it."

 

"You might tie my hands," suggested Luke.

 

"That wouldn't prevent your walking away."

 

"Then my feet."

 

"It won't be necessary, husband," said Mrs. Perkins. "I've got the poker⁵ and tongs⁶ ready."

 

But, though treated in this jesting manner, Luke could not help feeling a little anxious. For aught he knew, the tin box taken from his mother's trunk might be the same which had been stolen from the bank. In that case Roland Reed was not likely to appear again, and his story would be disbelieved. It was a strange one, he could not help admitting to himself. Yet he could not believe that the mysterious stranger was a burglar. If he were, it seemed very improbable that he would have left his booty within half a mile of the bank, in the very village where the theft had been committed. It was all very queer, and he could not see into the mystery.

 

"I should like to do something," thought Luke. "It's dull work sitting here with folded hands."

 

"Isn't there something I can do, Mrs. Perkins?" he said. "I am not used to sitting about the house idle."

 

"Well, you might make me some pies," said Mrs. Perkins.

 

"You'd never eat them if I did. I can boil eggs and fry potatoes. Isn't there some wood to saw and split?"

 

"Plenty out in the shed."

 

"I understand that, at any rate. Have you any objection to my setting to work?"

 

"No, if you won't run away."

 

"Send out Charlie to watch me."

 

Charlie was a youngster about four years of age, and very fond of Luke, who was a favorite with most young children.

 

"Yes, that will do. Charlie, go into the shed and see Luke saw wood."

 

"Yes, mama."

 

"Don't let him run away."

 

"No, I won't," said Charlie, gravely.

 

Luke felt happier when he was fairly at work. It took his mind off his troubles, as work generally does, and he spent a couple of hours in the shed. Then Mrs. Perkins came to the door and called him.

 

"Luke," she said, "a young lady has called to see the prisoner."

 

"A young lady! Who is it?"

 

"Florence Grant."

 

Luke's face brightened up with pleasure; he put on his coat and went into the house.

 

"Oh, Luke, what a shame!" exclaimed Florence, hastening to him with extended hand. "I only just heard of it."

 

"Then you're not afraid to shake hands with a bank burglar?" said Luke.

 

"No, indeed! What nonsense it is! Who do you think told me of your arrest?"

 

"Randolph Duncan."

 

"You have guessed it."

 

"What did he say? Did he seem to be shocked at my iniquity⁷?"

 

"I think he seemed glad of it. Of course, he believes you guilty."

 

"I supposed he would, or pretend to, at any rate. I think his father is interested to make me out guilty. I hope you don't think there is any chance of it?"

 

"Of course not, Luke. I know you too well. I'd sooner suspect Randolph. He wanted to know what I thought of you now."

 

"And what did you answer?"

 

"That I thought the same as I always had—that you were one of the best boys in the village. 'I admire your taste,' said Randolph, with a sneer⁸. Then I gave him a piece of my mind."

 

"I should like to have heard you, Florence."

 

"I don't know; you have no idea what a virago⁹ I am when I am mad. Now sit down and tell me all about it."

 

Luke obeyed, and the conversation was a long one, and seemed interesting to both. In the midst of it Linton Tomkins came in.

 

"Have you come to see the prisoner, also, Linton?" asked Florence.

 

"Yes, Florence. What a desperate-looking ruffian he is! I don't dare to come too near. How did you break into the bank, Luke?"

 

First Luke smiled, then he became grave. "After all, it is no joke to me, Linny," he said. "Think of the disgrace of being arrested on such a charge."

 

"The disgrace is in being a burglar, not in being arrested for one, Luke. Of course, it's absurd. Father wants me to say that if you are bound over for trial he will go bail¹⁰ for you to any amount."

 

"Your father is very kind, Linny. I may need to avail myself of his kindness."

 

The next day came, and at ten o'clock, Luke, accompanied by Constable Perkins, entered the room in which Squire¹¹ Duncan sat as trial justice. A considerable number of persons were gathered, for it was a trial in which the whole village was interested. Among them was Mrs. Larkin, who wore an anxious, perturbed¹² look.

 

"Oh, Luke," she said sorrowfully, "how terrible it is to have you here!"

 

"Don't be troubled, mother," said Luke. "We both know that I am innocent, and I rely on God to stand by me."

 

"Luke," said Mr. Beane, "though I am a bank trustee, I am your friend and believe you innocent. I will act as your lawyer."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Beane. I shall be very glad to accept your services."

 

The preliminary proceedings¹³ were of a formal character. Then Miss Melinda Sprague was summoned to testify. She professed¹⁴ to be very unwilling¹⁵ to say anything likely to injure her good friends, Luke and his mother, but managed to tell, quite dramatically, how she first caught a glimpse of the tin box.

 

"Did Mrs. Larkin know that you saw it?" asked the squire.

 

"She didn't know for certain," answered Melinda, "but she was evidently afraid I would, for she shut the trunk in a hurry, and seemed very much confused. I thought of this directly when I heard of the bank robbery, and I went over to tell Luke and his mother."

 

"How did they receive your communication?"

 

"They seemed very much frightened."

 

"And you inferred that they had not come honestly by the tin box?"

 

"It grieves me to say that I did," said Melinda, putting her handkerchief to her eyes to brush away an imaginary tear.

 

Finally Melinda sat down, and witnesses were called to testify to Luke's good character. There were more who wished to be sworn than there was time to hear. Mr. Beane called only Mr. Hooper, Mr. Tomkins and Luke's Sunday-school teacher. Then he called Luke to testify in his own defense¹⁶.

 

Luke told a straightforward¹⁷ story—the same that he had told before—replying readily and easily to any questions that were asked him.

 

"I submit, Squire Duncan," said Mr. Beane, "that my client's statement is plain and frank and explains everything. I hold that it exonerates¹⁸ him from all suspicion of complicity with the robbery."

 

"I differ with you," said Squire Duncan, acidly. "It is a wild, improbable tale, that does not even do credit to the prisoner's invention. In my opinion, this mysterious stranger has no existence. Is there any one besides himself who has seen this Roland Reed?"

 

At this moment there was a little confusion at the door. A tall, dark-complexioned stranger pushed his way into the court-room. He advanced quickly to the front.

 

"I heard my name called," he said. "There is no occasion to doubt my existence. I am Roland Reed!"

1 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。

2 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

3 constable   

n.(英国)警察，警官

参考例句：

• The constable conducted the suspect to the police station.警官把嫌疑犯带到派出所。
• The constable kept his temper,and would not be provoked.那警察压制着自己的怒气，不肯冒起火来。

4 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。

5 poker   

n.扑克；vt.烙制

参考例句：

• He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌，把钱都输光了。
• I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了，可以玩些花样。

6 tongs   

n.钳；夹子

参考例句：

• She used tongs to put some more coal on the fire.她用火钳再夹一些煤放进炉子里。
• He picked up the hot metal with a pair of tongs.他用一把钳子夹起这块热金属。

7 iniquity   

n.邪恶；不公正

参考例句：

• Research has revealed that he is a monster of iniquity.调查结果显示他是一个不法之徒。
• The iniquity of the transaction aroused general indignation.这笔交易的不公引起了普遍的愤怒。

8 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

9 virago   

n.悍妇

参考例句：

• The virago vomited out curses on that tramp.那悍妇怒骂那流浪汉。
• His wife is a virago.他的妻子是母老虎。

10 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

11 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。

12 perturbed   

adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I am deeply perturbed by the alarming way the situation developing. 我对形势令人忧虑的发展深感不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mother was much perturbed by my illness. 母亲为我的病甚感烦恼不安。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

13 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

14 professed   

公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的

参考例句：

• These, at least, were their professed reasons for pulling out of the deal. 至少这些是他们自称退出这宗交易的理由。
• Her manner professed a gaiety that she did not feel. 她的神态显出一种她并未实际感受到的快乐。

15 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

16 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

17 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

18 exonerates   

n.免罪，免除( exonerate的名词复数 )v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The report on the accident exonerates the bus driver from any responsibility. 事故的报告认为公共汽车司机是没有任何责任的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The report on the accident exonerates the company from any responsibility. 事故的报告认为公司是没有任何责任的。 来自互联网