Not much.
[Blanco stands motionless, his eye fixed, thinking hard, and
apparently deaf to what is going on.]
THE SHERIFF [rising solemnly] Silence there. Wait a bit. I take
it that if the Sheriff is satisfied and the owner of the horse is
satisfied, theres no more to be said. I have had to remark on
former occasions that what is wrong with this court is that
theres too many Sheriffs in it. To-day there is going to be one,
and only one; and that one is your humble servant. I call that to
the notice of the Foreman of the jury, and also to the notice
of young Strapper. I am also the owner of the horse. Does any man
say that I am not? [Silence]. Very well, then. In my opinion, to
commandeer a horse for the purpose of getting a dying child to a
doctor is not stealing, provided, as in the present case, that
the horse is returned safe and sound. I rule that there has
been no theft.
NESTOR. That aint the law.
THE SHERIFF. I fine you a dollar for contempt of court, and will
collect it myself off you as you leave the building. And as the
boys have been disappointed of their natural sport, I shall give
them a little fun by standing outside the door and taking up a
collection for the bereaved mother of the late kid that shewed up
Blanco Posnet.
THE BOYS. A collection. Oh, I say! Calls that sport? Is this a
mothers' meeting? Well, I'll be jiggered! Where does the sport
come in?
THE SHERIFF [continuing] The sport comes in, my friends, not so
much in contributing as in seeing others fork out.
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