The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 226: what you’re looking at

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212 Moreover, as Mr. Dysart had married into an aristocratic family, he was accommodated with a chair in the dock ; and the turnkey who had charge of him, was desired by the governor not to stand too near “the unfortunate gentleman.” We may also observe that during the whole trial, he was never spoken of, either by Judge, counsel, or wit- nesses, otherwise than as Mr. Dysart: whereas, had he been a working-man, the said Judge, coun- sel, and witnesses would not have thought of speaking of him otherwise than as the prisoner or the accused. Such a fortunate thing is it to be either rich or else connected with the aristocracy in this country! Ah! poor working-men—sons and daughters of toil—producers of everything and consumers of almost nothing—ye scarcely seem to know how utterly, completely, and entirely ye are oppressed, enslaved, and trampled upon by the arrogant, in- dolent, and tyrannical aristocracy ! Mr. Dysart, on entering the dock, bowed politely to the Judge and jury, and then seated himself with an air of confidence and composure : for he felt assured that even if the jury should find him guilty of the most aggravated charge, and the bench should thereupon doom him to death, the Prince Regent would accord him a full pardon. He was therefore comparatively easy in his mind —looking upon the present ordeal as a great an- noyance, but by no means as a predicament of terrible danger. The jury having been sworn, and the Recorder having finished laughing at the joke which Lord Herbert had just whispered in the judicial ear, the trial commenced. The Attorney-General appeared to prosecute; and he contented himself with a mere outline of the case, very considerately ab- staining from emphasis on the strongest points, and putting the weakest prominently forward as if he were actually furnishing the jury with an ex- cuse to acquit the prisoner. But on the previous day he had prosecuted a working -man for sedition: and then how he exaggerated every minute detail and by his eloquence invested the feeblest point with an overwhelming power to crush the accused ! But Mr. Dysart had married the niece of the Mar- quis of Leveson—and so the Attorney-General did not wish to send him to the scaffold. The law-oficer having opened the case, Lord Herbert was sworn as a witness. He did not leave his place on the bench near the Recorder—neither did he rise from his seat, but gave his evidence as comfortably as if lounging in his own drawing- room. He was a tall, thin man—of about fifty-five years of age—with iron-grey hair—anda sprawling, awkward, uncouth figure. He was immensely vain —outrageously arrogant—fond of hearing himself talk—and yet as empty-headed as lords generally are. Hehada habit of hesitating so much in his speech, that it seemed like a natural impediment and made it painful to listen to him. In fact, he was a shallow-pated numskull; and if he had not been an aristocrat, would have been written down an ass. “I believe, my lord,” said the Attorney-General, | “you are acquainted with Mr. Dysart, the gentle- man whose case is under investigation ?” “ Haw—hem—ah—Oh! yes—perfectly well ac- quainted with Mr. Dysart,” responded Lord Her- bert, crossing one leg over thie other. npn a oF ©} pn ee a OS nn EE a ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ And I believe your lordship gave a grand en- tertainment to a party of noblemen and gentlemen in the beginning of June, of the present year?” | | “ Hem—hah—haw—Oh! yes—a dinner-party.” | * At which Mr. Dysart was present ?” “ Haw—aye—yes—haw— Mr. Dysart was pre- sent—he—haw.” ‘And the lamented deceased, the Honourable George Sefton, was likewise of the party ?” “Eh—haw—hem—-Oh! yes—George Sefton— — haw—hem—was there.” ‘‘T believe that when the cloth was removed and the dessert was placed upon the table, a dispute arose upon some matter?” ‘* Oh—ah—hem—a dispute about Tantivy, the winner—haw—of the Oaks—hem—and also about Old Fogey, another crack racer—haw.” ‘And Mr. Dysart gave the Honourable George Seften the lie, I believe 2?” “ Hem—hah—yes—I’m afraid he did. Then, you know, high words—hem—haw—ensued—and Mr. Dysart flung a glass of wine in Sefton’s face— — haw—haw—and Sefton flew into a rage—-haw— and I don’t know how it was—haw—orhow it came about exactly—hem—hem—but pistols were talked of—and—and—and—pistols were got—haw—haw —and then—yes, then——” “Pray don't hurry yourself, my lord,” said the Judge: “there’s plenty of time, and we have got the whole day before us.” “ Oh! certainly,” observed the Attorney-General. ‘Your lordship was explaining with your lord- ship’s wonted clearness and perspicuity, how pistols were obtained-—”’ « Ah—yes—haw—truly,” exclaimed the noble- man, lolling back in his seat and running his fingers complaisantly through his hair, which stood upright all over his head. ‘ Well—as I was say- ing, then—haw—he—haw—it was proposed to fight—hem—hah—across the table—and [I believe —I’m afraid—hem—haw—I’m afraid Mr. Dysart fired—hem—before the signal—haw—was given. Sefton fell dead—haw—’twas a bad business—haw —and that’s all I know—hem—of the matter.” And having thus given his evidence, Lord Her- bert indulged in a long yawn, stretching out his sprawling legs till every joint cracked audibly. Dysart’s counsel rose to cross-examine the no- bleman: but the Attorney-General threw a depre- catory look upon him; and the barrister, fearful of giving offence to the great law-officer as well as to the Judge upon the bench, contented himself by asking some trivial question just to save appear~- ances, and resumed his seat. The Honourable George Macnamara, who sate next to Lord Herbert, now gave his testimony to the following purport :— “JT remember the entertainment at my Lord Herbert's. It was in the beginning of June. About twelve or fourteen noblemen and gentle- men were present. I was one of the guests: Mr. Dysart was another ;—and the Honourable George Sefton was likewise there. .A dispute arose rela- tive to Zantivy and Old Fogey. both belonged to Mr. Sefton; and Mr. Dysart was understood to have bet heavily uponthem. From a word that Mr. Sefton let fall, Mr. Dysart fancied that he did not mean the horses to run; and he called him a scoundrel and a cheat. Mr. Sefton called him a liar, We were all pretty jolly—I may ee — —_ - —E——————EE——— These horses © aaHKeleKexey <=) (E(0)