"And now, gentlemen," said Judge Baxter, "here we are.

Sit down and make yourselves comfortable.

I shall have a good deal to say and I expect to surprise you.

Sit down." Captain Gould and Mr.Hamilton were in the Judge's library at his home.
The funeral was over, all that was mortal of Marcellus Hall had been laid to rest in the Ostable cemetery, and his two friends and former partners had, on their return from that cemetery, stopped at the Judge's, at the latter's request.

He wished, so he said, to speak with them on an important matter.
"Why don't you sit down, Captain ?" asked the Judge, noticing that, although Zoeth had seated himself in the rocker which his host had indicated, Shadrach was still standing.
Captain Shadrach laid a hand on the back of the armchair and regarded the lawyer with a very grave face, but with a twinkle in his eye.
"To tell you the truth, Judge," he said, slowly, "I don't cal'late I ever shall set down again quite so whole-hearted as I used to.