 mind, so we had no hesitation in adopting it. The case was
called on about eleven o'clock, but we got it adjourned till three, so as to
give time for Ernest to set his affairs as straight as he could, and to execute
a power of attorney enabling me to act for him as I should think fit while he
was in prison.
    Then all came out about Pryer and the college of Spiritual Pathology. He had
even greater difficulty in making a clean breast of this than he had had in
telling us about Miss Maitland; but he told us all, and the upshot was that he
had actually handed over to Pryer every halfpenny that he then possessed, with
no other security than Pryer's I.O.U.'s for the amount. Ernest, though still
declining to believe that Pryer could be guilty of dishonourable conduct, was
becoming alive to the folly of what he had been doing; he still made sure,
however, of recovering at any rate the greater part of his property, as soon as
Pryer should have had time to sell. Towneley and I were of a different opinion,
but we did not say what we thought.
    It was dreary work waiting all the morning amid such unfamiliar and
depressing surroundings. I thought how the psalmist had exclaimed with quiet
irony, »One day in thy courts is better than a thousand,« and I thought that I
could utter a very similar sentiment in respect of the courts in which Towneley
and I were now compelled to loiter. At last, about three o'clock the case was
called on, and we went round to the part of the court which is reserved for the
general public, while Ernest was taken into the prisoner's dock. As soon as he
had collected himself sufficiently he recognised the magistrate as the old
gentleman who had spoken to him in the train, on the day he was leaving school,
and saw, or thought he saw, to his great grief, that he too was recognised.
    Mr. Ottery, for this was our attorney's name, took the line he had proposed;
he called no other witnesses than the rector, Towneley, and myself and threw
himself on the mercy of the magistrate. When he had concluded the magistrate
spoke as follows.
    »Ernest Pontifex, yours is one of the most painful cases that I have ever
had to deal with. You have been singularly favoured in your parentage and
education. You have had before you the example of blameless parents, who
doubtless instilled into you from childhood the enormity of the offence which by
