After at least three-quarters of an hour, during which the book is handed to and fro by the clerk from Judge to Plaintiff, that she may explain the meaning of the hieroglyphics, some light at last begins to dawn.  By dint of patiently separating the mixed entries the Judge presently arrives at a partial comprehension of what the Plaintiff has been trying to convey.  The amount of the receipted bill and the amount of the entries in the page of the account-book are the same; but the articles entered in the book and those admitted to be paid for are not.  The receipt mentions candles; the account-book has no candles.  Clearly they are two different debts, which chanced to come to the same figure.  The receipt, however, is not dated, and whether it is the Defendant who is wilfully misrepresenting, or whether the Plaintiff is under a mistaken notion, the Judge for the time cannot decide.  The Defendant declares that she does not know the date and cannot fix it—­it was a ‘main bit ago,’ and that is all she can say.

For the third time the Judge, patient to the last degree, wades through the account-book.  Meanwhile the hands of the clock have moved on.  Instead of being a short case, this apparently simple matter has proved a long one, and already as the afternoon advances the light of the dull winter’s day declines.  The solicitors engaged in the ‘horse case,’ who retired to consult, hoping to come to a settlement, returned into Court fully an hour ago, and have since been sitting at the table waiting to resume.  Besides these some four or five other lawyers of equal standing are anxiously looking for a chance of commencing their business.  All their clients are waiting, and the witnesses; they have all crowded into the Court, the close atmosphere of which is almost intolerable.

But having begun the case the Judge gives it his full and undivided attention.  Solicitors, clients, witnesses, cases that interest the public, causes that concern valuable property, or important contracts must all be put aside till this trifling matter is settled.  He is as anxious as any, or more so, to get on, because delay causes business to accumulate—­the adjourned causes, of course, having to be heard at next Court, and thus swelling the list to an inordinate length.  But, impatient as he may be, especially as he is convinced that one or other of the parties is keeping back a part of the truth, he is determined that the subject shall be searched to the bottom.  The petty village shopkeeper and the humble cottager obtain as full or fuller attention than the well-to-do Plaintiffs and Defendants who can bring down barristers from London.

‘What have you there?’ the Registrar’s clerk demands of the Plaintiff presently.  She has been searching in her pocket for a snuff-box wherewith to refresh herself, and, unable to immediately discover it, has emptied the contents of the pocket on the ledge of the witness-box.  Among the rest is another little account-book.