“Prisoners at the bar, stand up. Through
suppression of evidence, a jury of your—our—countrymen
have been obliged to deliver a verdict concerning
your case which stinks to heaven with the rankness
of its injustice. By its terms you, the guilty
one, go free with the innocent. Depart in peace,
and come no more! The costs devolve upon the
outraged plaintiff—another iniquity.
The court stands dissolved.”
Almost everybody crowded forward to overwhelm the
twins and their counsel with congratulations; but
presently the two old aunties dug the duplicates out
and bore them away in triumph through the hurrahing
crowd, while lots of new friends carried Pudd’nhead
Wilson off tavernward to feast him and “wet
down” his great and victorious entry into the
legal arena. To Wilson, so long familiar with
neglect and depreciation, this strange new incense
of popularity and admiration was as a fragrance blown
from the fields of paradise. A happy man was
Wilson.
THE AMAZING DUEL
A deputation came in the evening and
conferred upon Wilson the welcome honor of a
nomination for mayor; for the village has just been
converted into a city by charter. Tom skulks
out of challenging the twins. Judge Driscoll
thereupon challenges Angelo (accused by Tom of
doing the kicking); he declines, but Luigi accepts
in his place against Angelo’s timid protest.
It was late Saturday night nearing eleven.
The judge and his second found the rest of the war
party at the further end of the vacant ground, near
the haunted house. Pudd’nhead Wilson advanced
to meet them, and said anxiously:
“I must say a word in behalf of my principal’s
proxy, Count Luigi, to whom you have kindly granted
the privilege of fighting my principal’s battle
for him. It is growing late, and Count Luigi
is in great trouble lest midnight shall strike before
the finish.”
“It is another testimony,” said Howard,
approvingly. “That young man is fine all
through. He wishes to save his brother the sorrow
of fighting on the Sabbath, and he is right; it is
the right and manly feeling and does him credit.
We will make all possible haste.”
Wilson said: “There is also another reason—a
consideration, in fact, which deeply concerns Count
Luigi himself. These twins have command of their
mutual legs turn about. Count Luigi is in command
now; but at midnight, possession will pass to my principal,
Count Angelo, and—well, you can foresee
what will happen. He will march straight off
the field, and carry Luigi with him.”
“Why! sure enough!” cried the judge, “we
have heard something about that extraordinary law
of their being, already—nothing very definite,
it is true, as regards dates and durations of power,
but I see it is definite enough as regards to-night.
Of course we must give Luigi every chance. Omit
all the ceremonial possible, gentlemen, and place us
in position.”
