Free The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting Page A

him,
leaving us shut in the dimly-lighted, little, stone room. Before he
went, he said that as soon as we had done talking with our friend we
should knock upon the door and he would come and let us out.
    At first I could hardly see anything, it was so dim inside. But after
a little I made out a low bed against the wall, under a small barred
window. On the bed, staring down at the floor between his feet, sat the
Hermit, his head resting in his hands.
    "Well, Luke," said the Doctor in a kindly voice, "they don't give you
much light in here, do they?"
    Very slowly the Hermit looked up from the floor.
    "Hulloa, John Dolittle. What brings you here?"
    "I've come to see you. I would have been here sooner, only I didn't hear
about all this till a few minutes ago. I went to your hut to ask you if
you would join me on a voyage; and when I found it empty I had no idea
where you could be. I am dreadfully sorry to hear about your bad luck.
I've come to see if there is anything I can do."
    Luke shook his head.
    "No, I don't imagine there is anything can be done. They've caught me at
last. That's the end of it, I suppose."
    He got up stiffly and started walking up and down the little room.
    "In a way I'm glad it's over," said he. "I never got any peace, always
thinking they were after me—afraid to speak to anyone. They were bound
to get me in the end—Yes, I'm glad it's over."
    Then the Doctor talked to Luke for more than half an hour, trying to
cheer him up; while I sat around wondering what I ought to say and
wishing I could do something.
    At last the Doctor said he wanted to see Bob; and we knocked upon the
door and were let out by the policeman.
    "Bob," said the Doctor to the big bulldog in the passage, "come out with
me into the porch. I want to ask you something."
    "How is he, Doctor?" asked Bob as we walked down the corridor into the
Court-house porch.
    "Oh, Luke's all right. Very miserable of course, but he's all right. Now
tell me, Bob: you saw this business happen, didn't you? You were there
when the man was killed, eh?"
    "I was, Doctor," said Bob, "and I tell you—"
    "All right," the Doctor interrupted, "that's all I want to know for the
present. There isn't time to tell me more now. The trial is just going
to begin. There are the judge and the lawyers coming up the steps. Now
listen, Bob: I want you to stay with me when I go into the court-room.
And whatever I tell you to do, do it. Do you understand? Don't make any
scenes. Don't bite anybody, no matter what they may say about Luke.
Just behave perfectly quietly and answer any question I may ask
you—truthfully. Do you understand?"
    "Very well. But do you think you will be able to get him off, Doctor?"
asked Bob. "He's a good man, Doctor. He really is. There never was a
better."
    "We'll see, we'll see, Bob. It's a new thing I'm going to try. I'm not
sure the judge will allow it. But—well, we'll see. It's time to go into
the court-room now. Don't forget what I told you. Remember: for Heaven's
sake don't start biting any one or you'll get us all put out and spoil
everything."

The Fifth Chapter. Mendoza
*
    INSIDE the court-room everything was very solemn and wonderful. It was a
high, big room. Raised above the floor, against the wall was the judge's
desk; and here the judge was already sitting—an old, handsome man in
a marvelous big wig of gray hair and a gown of black. Below him was
another wide, long desk at which lawyers in white wigs sat. The whole
thing reminded me of a mixture between a church and a school.
    "Those twelve men at the side," whispered the Doctor—"those in pews
like a choir, they are what is called the jury. It is they who decide
whether Luke is guilty—whether he did it or not."
    "And look!" I said, "there's Luke himself in a sort of pulpit-thing with
policemen each side of him. And there's another pulpit, the same kind,
the other side of the room, see—only that one's empty."
    "That one is called the witness-box," said the Doctor. "Now I'm