The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 114: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

108 THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? aaa aa ae I oe A great many of the faces were considerably elongated at this an- mouncement, which was so different from what they had expected to hear. “ May we not have legal advice, sir?” asked Freddy, after a pause. There was a general titter, in which even the doctor j6ined, at this strange request. “Yes, certainly, if you think your case requires it.” The doctor then left the hall, and the boys began a discussion. It was voted that the best solicitor in the town, brother-in-law to the presid- ang magistrate, should be employed to defend them, and a messenger was sent to request him to attend at the school. The legal gentleman very quickly obeyed the summons, and after an inter- View with his young clients, assured them that their fate would not be so very dreadful, not more than a month’s imprisonment, at afiy rate. The Eari of Pembridge and Frank then concocted an epistle, which was sent to the editor of the local paper, with a view to prevent any report frors appearing, and soon after that supper was announced, Several of the boys had completely lost their appetites, and when they retired to rest it-was some hours before any of them went to sleep. | Breakfast was likewise disregarded by many of them, lessons were badly done, and, at last, with heavy hearts, they set out-for the dreadful court of Justice, to receive the punishment due to their sins. Qe era CHAPTER XXVII. JUSTICE. EVEN Frank Egerton felt a slight sink- ing at the heart as, with the rest of the party, he neared the town-hall. _ For he had never been in an English court of justice, either as witness, pro- secutor, prisoner, plaintiff, or defendant, and the law, being to him a mystery, held forth certain terrors. Great trepidation filled him as he passed up the staircase he had once ascended under such different circum- wtances—on the back of the mad horse; and earnestly did he hope that his exit might on this occasion be as trium- phant. “How many of you young gentle- men are there?” asked a very polite inspector, looking first at the boys and then at the doctor. “T think there are sixteen,” responded Mr. Whackley. “Just the number. But T fancy there were more than these engaged in | the riot.” “So I think. But these are all I could identify.” ‘Then, young gentlemen, it is my duty to take you all into custody, ona. charge of rioting. Step this way, if you please.” | Following the inspector, the boys found themselves in an official-looking: apartment, furnished with a big desk and a leather-covered stool, while round the walls were wooden benches. Doctor Whackley did not accompany them to this prison-cell, as Freddy Webber called it. The worthy dector had, the previous evening, arranged with the police au. thorities that, instead, of going through the formality of issuing summonses against the boys, they should be in- duced to surrender themselves qnietly, EO DOC (S(O) mn