A second justice drives up, and then a third.

No more are required by law, but these gentlemen must first smoke several cigarettes and discuss all the local news before they begin work.
"At last they take their seats on the bench--a slightly elevated platform at one end of the room, behind a table covered with green baize--and the proceedings commence.

My case is sure to be pretty far down on the list--the secretary takes, I believe, a malicious pleasure in watching my impatience--and before it is called the justices have to retire at least once for refreshments and cigarettes.

I have to amuse myself by listening to the other cases, and some of them, I can assure you, are amusing enough.

The walls of that room must be by this time pretty well saturated with perjury, and many of the witnesses catch at once the infection.