Australian Tales - Setis

poor man before.”
“Hurrah!” roared Micky, “didn't I tell ye so? I'm as innicint as a little
duck inside a hen's egg, so I am.”
“Silence!” shouted the senior J.P., and his posse comitatus echoed the
order, making ten times more noise than Micky.
The gentleman then briefly but lucidly, explained his meeting with
Micky, and the subsequent events; especially commenting upon his
extreme anxiety to find the old gentleman, with whom he had left two
valuable books. The deponent also expressed his regret that he had,
through the novelty of the prisoner's anxiety, mistaken him for, and
treated him as, a dangerous lunatic; and finally stated his belief that he
was an honest man, whom he would be very glad to have in his employ.
A wonderful reaction in Micky's favour commenced from that moment.
The frowns of the prosecutor's face relaxed into bland smiles. The testy
J.P. began to look good-tempered, and the constables seemed sorry for
having rattled Micky's bones so roughly. The saddle-bags were next
examined, and proved that Micky had not extracted an article from them.
The saddle was examined too, and its evidence was also favourable; the
examination of the horse was dispensed with. After a few minutes'
conference between the magistrates, Micky received an honourable
acquittal; and what pleased him still more, he received back his precious
books from the hands of the prosecutor, who remarked, “that he had read
them with pleasure and profit; and intended to buy copies of them as
soon as he could.”
As Micky took the books into his hands, his honest face glowed with
happiness which seemed to illumine the gloomy court-house, and make
everbody smile. Making a feint to touch his forelock to the bench and the
prosecutor, Micky exclaimed in a hearty tone, “Long life to yer honors!
May God bless every sowl of yez — constables an all,” and then he
hurried out of the building.
He was quickly followed out by a dilapidated looking personage, with
a purple nose, who tapped him on the shoulder.
“Mr. Mahony,” said the phenomenon, “allow me to offer you a little
advice, for I see you are an ill-used man. You have grounds for two good
actions for damages; and your fortune is as good as made, if you go the
sharp way to work. You have a first-rate action against old Nobbles, for
false imprisonment. He is as rich as a copper mine, and you may knock a
handsome sum out of him. Mr. Phinewoll, the J.P., is rich too, you have a
stunning action for assault and battery there, and are sure to get heavy
damages. Will you step with me to my office?”
“Not a bit of it, Mr. What's-yer-name. I've got no grudge aginst ayther
of them gintlemen. They shaved me head an face as bald as a hatter's
block; but that's all the damage they've done me. I don't want to go to law
wid em for such a trifle as that. Beside, I've got better law nor yourn to