Mrs。 Patsy Cooper may be sent for。 Take the stand； Mr。 Buckstone。〃
Buckstone took the oath； and then testified that on the previous evening
the Count Angelo Capello had protested against going to the hall； and had
called all present to witness that he was going by compulsion and would
not go if he could help himself。 Also； that the Count Luigi had replied
sharply that he would go； just the same； and that he； Count Luigi； would
see to that himself。 Also； that upon Count Angelo's complaining about
being kept on his legs so long； Count Luigi retorted with apparent
surprise； 〃Your legs！I like your impudence！〃
〃Now we are getting at the kernel of the thing；〃 observed the judge； with
grave and earnest satisfaction。 〃It looks as if the Count Luigi was in
possession of the battery at the time of the assault。〃
Nothing further was elicited from Mr。 Buckstone on direct examination。
Mr。 Wilson took the witness。
〃Mr。 Buckstone； about what time was it that that conversation took
place？〃
〃Toward nine yesterday evening； sir。〃
〃Did you then proceed directly to the hall？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃How long did it take you to go there？〃
〃Well； we walked； and as it was from the extreme edge of the town； and
there was no hurry； I judge it took us about twenty minutes； maybe a
trifle more。〃
〃About what hour was the kick delivered？〃
〃About thirteen minutes and a half to ten。〃
〃Admirable！ You are a pattern witness； Mr。 Buckstone。 How did you
happen to look at your watch at that particular moment？〃
〃I always do it when I see an assault。 It's likely I shall be called as
a witness； and it's a good point to have。〃
〃It would be well if others were as thoughtful。 Was anything said；
between the conversation at my house and the assault； upon the detail
which we are now examining into？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃If power over the mutual legs was in the possession of one brother at
nine； and passed into the possession of the other one during the next
thirty or forty minutes； do you think you could have detected the
change？〃
〃By no means！〃
〃That is all； Mr。 Buckstone。〃
Mrs。 Patsy Cooper was called。 The crowd made way for her； and she came
smiling and bowing through the narrow human lane； with Betsy Hale； as
escort and support； smiling and bowing in her wake； the audience breaking
into welcoming cheers as the old favorites filed along。 The judge did
not check this kindly demonstration of homage and affection； but let it
run its course unrebuked。
The old ladies stopped and shook hands with the twins with effusion； then
gave the judge a friendly nod； and bustled into the seats provided for
them。 They immediately began to deliver a volley of eager questions at
the friends around them： 〃What is this thing for？〃 〃What is that thing
for？〃 〃Who is that young man that's writing at the desk？ Why； I
declare； it's Jack Bunce！ I thought he was sick。〃 〃Which is the jury？
Why； is that the jury？ Billy Price and Job Turner； and Jack Lounsbury；
andwell； I never！〃 〃Now who would ever 'a' thought〃
But they were gently called to order at this point； and asked not to talk
in court。 Their tongues fell silent； but the radiant interest in their
faces remained； and their gratitude for the blessing of a new sensation
and a novel experience still beamed undimmed from their eyes。 Aunt Patsy
stood up and took the oath； and Mr。 Allen explained the point in issue；
and asked her to go on now； in her own way； and throw as much light upon
it as she could。 She toyed with her reticule a moment or two； as if
considering where to begin； then she said：
〃Well； the way of it is this。 They are Luigi's legs a week at a time；
and then they are Angelo's； and he can do whatever he wants to with
them。〃
〃You are making a mistake； Aunt Patsy Cooper；〃 said the judge。 〃You
shouldn't state that as a fact； because you don't know it to be a fact。〃
〃What's the reason I don't？〃 said Aunt Patsy； bridling a little。
〃What is the reason that you do know it？〃
〃The best in the world because they told me。〃
〃That isn't a reason。〃
〃Well； for the land's sake！ Betsy Hale； do you hear that？〃
〃Hear it？ I should think so；〃 said Aunt Betsy； rising and facing the
court。 〃Why； Judge； I was there and heard it myself。 Luigi says to
Angelono； it was Angelo said it to〃
〃Come； come； Mrs。 Hale； pray sit down； and〃
〃Certainly； it's all right； I'm going to sit down presently； but not
until I've〃
〃But you must sit down！〃
〃Must！ Well； upon my word if things ain't getting to a pretty pass
when〃
The house broke into laughter； but was promptly brought to order； and
meantime Mr。 Allen persuaded the old lady to take her seat。 Aunt Patsy
continued：
〃Yes； they told me that； and I know it's true。 They're Luigi's legs this
week； but〃
〃Ah； they told you that； did they？〃 said the Justice； with interest。
〃Well； no； I don't know that they told me； but that's neither here nor
there。 I know； without that； that at dinner yesterday； Angelo was as
tired as a dog； and yet Luigi wouldn't lend him the legs to go up…stairs
and take a nap with。〃
〃Did he ask for them？〃
〃Let me seeit seems to me； somehow； thatthatAunt Betsy； do you
remember whether he〃
〃Never mind about what Aunt Betsy remembers she is not a witness； we
only want to know what you remember yourself；〃 said the judge。
〃Well； it does seem to； me that you are most cantankerously particular
about a little thing； Sim Robinson。 Why； when I can't remember a thing
myself； I always〃
〃Ah； please go on！〃
〃Now how can she when you keep fussing at her all the time？〃 said Aunt
Betsy。 〃Why； with a person pecking at me that way； I should get that
fuzzled and fuddled that〃
She was on her feet again； but Allen coaxed her into her seat once more；
while the court squelched the mirth of the house。 Then the judge said：
〃Madam； do you knowdo you absolutely know； independently of anything
these gentlemen have told youthat the power over their legs passes from
the one to the other regularly every week？〃
〃Regularly？ Bless your heart； regularly ain't any name for the exactness
of it！ All the big cities in Europe used to set the clocks by it。〃
（Laughter； suppressed by the court。）
〃How do you know？ That is the question。 Please answer it plainly and
squarely。〃
〃Don't you talk to me like that； Sim RobinsonI won't have it。 How do
I know； indeed！ How do you know what you know？ Because somebody told
you。 You didn't invent it out of your own head； did you？ Why； these
twins are the truthfulest people in the world； and I don't think it
becomes you to sit up there and throw slurs at them when they haven't
been doing anything to you。 And they are orphans besidesboth of them。
All〃
But Aunt Betsy was up again now； and both old ladies were talking at once
and with all their might； but as the house was weltering in a storm of
laughter； and the judge was hammering his desk with an iron paper…weight；
one could only see them talk； not hear them。 At last； when quiet was
restored； the court said：
〃Let the ladies retire。〃
〃But； your honor； I have the right； in the interest of my clients；to
cross…exam〃
〃You'll not need to exercise it； Mr。 Wilsonthe evidence is thrown out。〃
〃Thrown out！〃 said Aunt Patsy； ruffled； 〃and what's it thrown out for；
I'd like to know。〃
〃And so would I； Patsy Cooper。 It seems to me that if we can save these
poor persecuted strangers； it is our bounden duty to stand up here and
talk for them till〃
〃There； there； there； do sit down！〃
It cost some trouble and a good deal of coaxing； but they were got into
their seats at last。 The trial was soon ended now。 The twins themselves
became witnesses in their own defense。 They established the fact； upon
oath； that the leg…power passed from one to the other every Saturday
night at twelve o'clock sharp。 But or cross…examination their counsel
would not allow them to tell whose week of power the current week was。
The judge insisted upon their answering； and proposed to compel them； but
even the prosecution took fright and came to the rescue then； and helped
stay the sturdy jurist's revolutionary hand。 So the case had to go to
the jury with that important point hanging in the air。 They were out an
hour and brought in this verdict：
〃We the jury do find： 1； that an assault was committed； as charged；
2； that it was committed by one of the persons accused； he having been
seen to do it by several credible witnesses； 3； but that his identity is
so merged in his brother's that we have not been able to tell which was
him。 We cannot convict both； for only one is guilty。 We cannot acquit
both； for only one is innocent。 Our verdict is that justice has been
defeated by the dispensation of God； and ask to be discharged from
further duty。〃
This was read aloud in court and brought out a burst of hearty applause。
The old ladies made a spring at the twins； to shake and congratulate； but
were gently disengaged by Mr。 Wilson and softly crowded back into their
places。
The judge rose in his little tribune； laid aside his silver…bowed
spectacles； roached his gray hair up with his fingers； and said； with
dignity and solemni