All his indignation was now forgotten, and he was full of boisterous fun, filling the court with peals of laughter.

One o'clock came, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and still no verdict.

At the latter hour, when the court was about to be adjourned, the foreman came in, and assured the judge that there was no probability that they could agree; eleven of them thought one way, while the twelfth was opposed to them.

'You must reason with the gentleman,' said the judge.

'I have, my lord,' said the foreman, 'but it's all thrown away upon him.' 'Reason with him again,' said the judge, rising from his bench and preparing to go to his dinner.
And then one of the great fundamental supports of the British constitution was brought into play.