It Is Never Too Late to Mend Part 132

Stevens. "'Ah!"

Robinson. "Oh!"

Andrew. "Come! the beggars have got hold of some of our words!"

Robinson. "Silence in the court!"

Andrew. "I ask pardon, captain."

Stevens. "But the other pounced on it first, so they both claim it."

Robinson. "Well! I call it a plain case."

Stevens. "So I told them."

Robinson. "Exactly! Which do you think ought to have it?"

Stevens. "Why, I told them we have a proverb--'Losers, seekers--finders, keepers.'"

Robinson. "Of course; and which was the finder?"

Stevens. "Oh! of course this one that--hum! Well, to be sure he only said 'ah!' he did not point. Then perhaps--but on the other hand--hum!"

Robinson. "Why, don't you see? but no!--yes! why it must be the one that--ugh! Drat you both! why couldn't one of you find it, and the other another?"

Robinson was puzzled. At last he determined that this his first judgment should satisfy both parties.

"Remove the prisoners," said he; "are they the prisoners or the witnesses? remove them anyway, and keep them apart."

Robinson then searched his pockets, and produced a little gold swan-shot scarce distinguishable from the Chinese. He put this on the table, and took up the other.

"Fetch in number one!"

The Chinaman came in with obeisances and misgivings; but when the judge signed to him to take up the gold, which he mistook for the cause of quarrel, his face lightened with a sacred joy--he receded, and with a polite gesture cleared a s.p.a.ce; then, advancing one foot with large and lofty grace, he addressed the judge, whose mouth began to open with astonishment, in slow, balanced and musical sentences. This done, he retired with three flowing salaams, to which the judge replied with three little nods.

"What on earth did the beggar say? What makes you grin, Mr. Stevens?"

Stevens. "He said--click!"

Robinson. "Come! tell me first, laugh after."

Stevens. "He said, 'May your highness flourish like a tree by the side of a stream that never overflows, yet is never dry, but glides--(click!)--even and tranquil as the tide of your prosperity--'"

Robinson. "Well, I consent!"

Stevens. "'May dogs defile the graves of your enemies! '"

Robinson. "With all my heart! provided I am not dancing over them at the time."

Stevens. "When satiated with earthly felicity, may you be received in paradise by seventy dark-eyed houris--'"

Robinson. "Oh! my eye!"

Stevens. "Click! 'Each bearing in her hand the wine of the faithful; and may the applause of the good at your departure resemble the waves of the ocean beating musically upon rocky caverns. Thy servant, inexperienced in oratory, retires abashed at the greatness of his subject, and the insignificance of his expressions.' So then he cut his stick!"

Robinson. "A very sensible speech! Well, boys, I'm not greedy; I take the half of that offer, and give you the rest--bring in the other gentleman!"

No. 2 advanced with reverences and misgivings. Robinson placed the gold on the table and a.s.signed it to him. A sacred joy illumined him, and he was about to retire with deep obeisances.

"Where is his speech?" cried the judge ruefuly.

Stevens explained to him that the other had returned thanks. On this No.

2 smiled a.s.sentingly, and advancing delivered the following sentences:

"Your slave lay writhing in adversity, despoiled by the unprincipled.

He was a gourd withered by the noonday sun, until your virtues descended like the dew, and refreshed him with your justice and benignity.

"Wherefore hear now the benediction of him whom your clemency has raised from despair.

"May your shadow increase and cover many lands. May your offspring be a nation dwelling in palaces with golden roofs and walls of ivory, and on the terraces may peac.o.c.ks be as plentiful as sparrows are to the undeserving. May you live many centuries shining as you now shine; and at your setting may rivulets of ink dug by the pens of poets flow through meadows of paper in praise of the virtues that embellish you here on earth. Sing-tu-Che, a person of small note but devoted to your service, wishes these frivolous advantages to the Pearl of the West, on whom be honor."

Chorus of diggers. "My eye!"

Robinson rose with much gravity and delivered himself thus:

"Sing-tu-Che, you are a trump, an orator, and a humbug. All the better for you. May felicity attend you. Heichster guchster--honi soit qui mal y pense--donner und blitzen--tempora mutantur--O mia cara and pax vobisc.u.m. The court is dissolved."

It was, and I regret to add that Judge Robinson's concluding sentences raised him greatly in the opinion of the miners.

"Captain knows a thing or two."

"If ever we send one to parliament that is the man."

"Halo! you fellows, come here! come here!"

A rush was made toward Jem, who was roaring and gesticulating at Mr.

Levi's table. When they came up they found Jem black and white with rage, and Mr. Levi seated in calm indifference.

"What is it?" asked Robinson.

"The merchant refuses my gold."

"I refuse no man's gold," objected Levi coolly, "but this stuff is not gold."

"Not gold-dust," cried a miner; and they all looked with wonder at the rejected merchandise.

Mr. Levi took the dust and poured it out from one hand to the other; he separated the particles and named them by some mighty instinct.

"Bra.s.s--or-molu--gilt platinum to give it weight; this is from Birmingham, not from Australia, nor nature."