\"Speaktohim，NOW！\"exclaimedthedistrictattorney。’You’vegottowaittillyourmancomesup。Ifyouspeaktothejudge，NOW——\"
ThevoiceofAndrewsfadedawayinhorror。
Notknowinginwhatwayhehadoffended，butconvincedthatitwasonlybythegraceofAndrewshehadescapedadungeon，Mr。
Thorndikeretreatedtohisarm—chair。
Theclockonthewallshowedhimthat，already，hehadgiventoyoungSpearonehourandaquarter。Theideawaspreposterous。Noonebetterthanhimselfknewwhathistimewasreallyworth。Inhalfanhourtherewasaboardmeeting;later，hewastoholdapostmortemonarailroad;ateverymomentquestionswerebeingaskedbytelegraph，bycable，questionsthatinvolvedthecreditofindividuals，offirms，ofeventhecountry。Andtheonemanwhocouldanswerthemwasriskinguntoldsumsonlythathemightsayagoodwordforanidleapprentice。Insidetherailedenclosurealawyerwasreadingatypewrittenspeech。Heassuredhishonorthathemusthavemoretimetopreparehiscase。Itwasoneofimmenseimportance。Thenameofamostrespectablebusinesshousewasinvolved，andasumofnolessthanninehundreddollars。Ninehundreddollars！ThecontraststruckMr。Thorndike’ssenseofhumorfullinthecentre。Unknowingly，helaughed，andfoundhimselfasconspicuousasthoughhehadappearedsuddenlyinhisnight—clothes。Thetipstaffsbeatupontherail，thelawyerhehadinterruptedutteredanindignantexclamation，Andrewscamehurriedlytowardhim，andtheyoungjudgeslowlyturnedhishead。
\"Thosepersons，\"hesaid，\"whocannotrespectthedignityofthiscourtwillleaveit。\"Ashespoke，withhiseyesfixedonthoseofMr。Thorndike，thelattersawthattheyoungjudgehadsuddenlyrecognizedhim。Butthefactofhisidentitydidnotcausethefrowntorelaxortherebuketohaltunuttered。Ineven，icytonesthejudgecontinued:\"Anditiswelltheyshouldrememberthatthelawisnorespecterofpersonsandthatthedignityofthiscourtwillbeenforced，nomatterwhotheoffendermayhappentobe。\"
AndrewsslippedintothechairbesideMr。Thorndike，andgrinnedsympathetically。
\"Sorry！\"hewhispered。\"Shouldhavewarnedyou。Wewon’tbelongnow，\"headdedencouragingly。\"Assoonasthisfellowfinisheshisargument，thejudge’lltakeupthesentences。Yourmanseemstohaveotherfriends;Isaacs&Sonsarehere，andthetype—writerfirmwhotaughthim;butwhatYOUsaywillhelpmost。Itwon’tbemorethanacoupleofhoursnow。\"
\"Acoupleofhours！\"Mr。Thorndikeragedinwardly。Acoupleofhoursinthisplacewherehehadbeenpubliclyhumiliated。Hesmiled，athin，shark—likesmile。Thosewhomadeittheirbusinesstostudyhisexpressions，onseeingit，wouldhavefled。YoungAndrews，notbeingacquaintedwiththemoodsofthegreatman，addedcheerfully:\"Byoneo’clock，anyway。\"
Mr。Thorndikebegangrimlytopullonhisgloves。ForallhecarednowyoungSpearcouldgohang。Andrewsnudgedhiselbow。
\"Seethatoldladyinthefrontrow？\"hewhispered。\"That’sMrs。
Spear。WhatdidItellyou;mothersareallalike。She’snottakenhereyesoffyousincecourtopened。Sheknowsyou’reheronebestbet。\"
ImpatientlyMr。Thorndikeraisedhishead。Hesawalittle，white—
hairedwomanwhostaredathim。Inhereyeswasthesamelookhehadseenintheeyesofmenwho，attimesofpanic，fledtohim，beseeching，entreating，forcinguponhimwhatwasleftofthewreckoftheirfortunes，ifonlyhewouldsavetheirhonor。
\"Andherecometheprisoners，\"Andrewswhispered。\"SeeSpear？
Thirdmanfromthelast。\"Alongline，guardedinfrontandrear，shuffledintothecourt—room，and，asordered，rangedthemselvesagainstthewall。Amongthemwereoldmenandyoungboys，welldressed，clever—lookingrascals，collarlesstramps，fierce—eyedaliens，smooth—shaven，thin—lippedBroadwayards——andSpear。
Spear，hisheadhanging，withlipswhiteandcheeksashen，andhiseyesheavywithshame。
Mr。Thorndikehadrisen，and，infarewell，washoldingouthishandtoAndrews。Heturned，andacrossthecourt—roomtheeyesofthefinancierandthestenographermet。Atthesightofthegreatman，Spearflushedcrimson，andthenhislookofdespairslowlydisappeared;andintohiseyestherecameincredulouslyhopeandgratitude。Heturnedhisheadsuddenlytothewall。
Mr。Thorndikestoodirresolute，andthensankbackintohischair。
Thefirstmaninthelinewasalreadyattherailing，andthequestionsputtohimbythejudgewerebeingrepeatedtohimbytheotherassistantdistrictattorneyandacourtattendant。Hismutteredanswerswereinturnrepeatedtothejudge。
\"Sayshe’smarried，naturalizedcitizen，LutheranChurch，die—
cutterbyprofession。\"
Theprobationofficer，herhandsfilledwithpapers，bustledforwardandwhispered。
\"Mrs。Austinsays，\"continuedthedistrictattorney，\"she’slookedintothiscase，andaskstohavethemanturnedovertoher。Hehasawifeandthreechildren;hassupportedthemforfiveyears。\"
\"Isthewifeincourt？\"thejudgesaid。
Athin，washed—out，prettywomanstoodup，andclaspedherhandsinfrontofher。
\"Hasthismanbeenagoodhusbandtoyou，madam？\"askedtheyoungjudge。
Thewomanbrokeintovehementassurances。Nomancouldhavebeenabetterhusband。Wouldshetakehimback？Indeedshewouldtakehimback。Sheheldoutherhandsasthoughshewouldphysicallydragherhusbandfromthepillory。
Thejudgebowedtowardtheprobationofficer，andshebeckonedtheprisonertoher。
Othermenfollowed，andinthefortuneofeachMr。Thorndikefoundhimself，tohissurprise，takingapersonalinterest。Itwasasgoodasaplay。ItremindedhimoftheSicilianshehadseeninLondonintheirlittlesordidtragedies。Onlytheseactorswereappearingintheirproperpersonsinrealdramasofalifehedidnotknow，butwhichappealedtosomethingthathadbeenlonguntouched，longindisuse。Itwasanuncomfortablesensationthatlefthimrestlessbecause，asheappreciated，itneededexpression，anoutlet。Hefoundthis，partially，inpraising，throughAndrews，theyoungjudgewhohadpubliclyrebukedhim。Mr。Thorndikefoundhimastute，sane;hisqueriesintelligent，hiscommentsjust。Andthisprobationofficer，she，too，wascapable，wasshenot？
Smilingathisinterestinwhattohimwasanoldstory，theyoungermannodded。
\"Ilikeherlooks，\"whisperedthegreatman。\"Likehercleareyesandcleanskin。Shestrikesmeasable，fullofenergy，andyetwomanly。Thesemenwhentheycomeunderhercharge，\"heinsisted，eagerly，\"needmoneytostartagain，don’tthey？\"Hespokeanxiously。Hebelievedhehadfoundtheclewtohisrestlessness。
Itwasadesiretohelp;tobeofusetothesefailureswhohadfallenandwhowerebeingliftedtotheirfeet。Andrewslookedathimcuriously。\"Anythingyougiveher，\"heanswered，\"wouldbewellinvested。\"
\"Ifyouwilltellmehernameandaddress？\"whisperedthebanker。
Hewasmuchgiventocharity，butithadbeenperfunctory，itwasextendedontheadviceofhissecretary。Inhelpinghere，hefeltagenialglowofpersonalpleasure。ItwasmuchmoresatisfactorythangivinganOldMastertohisprivatechapel。
Intherearofthecourt—roomtherewasascufflethatcausedeveryonetoturnandlook。Aman，whohadtriedtoforcehiswaypastthetipstaffs，wasbeingviolentlyejected，and，ashedisappeared，hewavedapapertowardMr。Thorndike。Thebankerrecognizedhimashischiefclerk。Andrewsroseanxiously。\"Thatmanwantedtogettoyou。I’llseewhatitis。Maybeit’simportant。\"
Mr。Thorndikepulledhimback。
\"Maybeitis，\"hesaiddryly。\"ButIcan’tseehimnow，I’mbusy。\"
Slowlythelonglineofderelicts，ofbirdsofprey，ofsorry，weakfailures，passedbeforetheseatofjudgment。Mr。Thorndikehadmovedintoachairnearertotherail，andfromtimetotimemadeanoteuponthebackofanenvelope。Hehadforgottenthetimeorhadchosentodisregardit。Sogreatwashisinterestthathehadforgottentheparticularderelicthehadcometoserve，untilSpearstoodalmostathiselbow。
Thorndiketurnedeagerlytothejudge，andsawthathewaslisteningtoarotund，graylittlemanwithbeady，bird—likeeyeswho，ashetalked，bowedandgesticulated。Behindhimstoodayoungerman，amoremoderneditionoftheother。Healsobowedand，behindgoldeye—glasses，smiledingratiatingly。
Thejudgenodded，andleaningforward，forafewmomentsfixedhiseyesupontheprisoner。
\"Youareaveryfortunateyoungman，\"hesaid。Helaidhishanduponapileofletters。\"Whenyouwereyourownworstenemy，yourfriendscametohelpyou。Theselettersspeakforyou;youremployers，whomyourobbed，havepleadedwithmeinyourfavor。Itisurged，inyourbehalf，thatatthetimeyoucommittedthecrimeofwhichyouarefoundguilty，youwereintoxicated。Intheeyesofthelaw，thatisnoexcuse。Somemencandrinkandkeeptheirsenses。Itappearsyoucannot。Whenyoudrinkyouareamenacetoyourself——and，asisshownbythiscrime，tothecommunity。
Therefore，youmustnotdrink。Inviewofthegoodcharactertowhichyourfriendshavetestified，andontheconditionthatyoudonottouchliquor，Iwillnotsentenceyoutojail，butwillplaceyouinchargeoftheprobationofficer。\"
ThejudgeleanedbackinhischairandbeckonedtoMr。Andrews。Itwasfinished。Spearwasfree，andfromdifferentpartsofthecourtroompeopleweremovingtowardthedoor。Theirnumbersshowedthatthefriendsoftheyoungmanhadbeenmany。Mr。Thorndikefeltacertaintwingeofdisappointment。Eventhoughtheresultrelievedandpleasedhim，hewished，inbringingitabout，hehadhadsomepart。
HebegrudgedtoIsaacs&SonsthecreditofhavinggivenSpearhisliberty。Hismorninghadbeenwasted。Hehadneglectedhisowninterests，andinnowayassistedthoseofSpear。HewasmovingoutoftherailedenclosurewhenAndrewscalledhimbyname。
\"Hishonor，\"hesaidimpressively，\"wishestospeaktoyou。\"
ThejudgeleanedoverhisdeskandshookMr。Thorndikebythehand。
Thenhemadeaspeech。Thespeechwasaboutpublic—spiritedcitizenswho，totheneglectoftheirowninterests，cametoassisttheendsofjustice，andfellow—creaturesinmisfortune。Hepurposelyspokeinaloudvoice，andeveryonestoppedtolisten。
\"Thelaw，Mr。Thorndike，isnotvindictive，\"hesaid。\"Itwishesonlytobejust。Norcanitbeswayedbywealthorpoliticalorsocialinfluences。Butwhenthereisgoodinaman，I，personally，wanttoknowit，andwhengentlemenlikeyourself，ofyourstandinginthiscity，comeheretospeakagoodwordforaman，wewouldstultifythepurposeofjusticeifwedidnotlisten。Ithankyouforcoming，andIwishmoreofourcitizenswereasunselfishandpublic—spirited。\"
Itwasallquiteabsurdandmostembarrassing，butinwardlyMr。
Thorndikeglowedwithpleasure。Itwasalongtimesinceanyonehadhadtheaudacitytotellhimhehaddonewell。FromthefriendsofSpeartherewasarippleofapplause，whichnotipstafftookituponhimselftosuppress，andtotheaccompanimentofthis，Mr。Thorndikewalkedtothecorridor。Hewaspleasedwithhimselfandwithhisfellow—men。HeshookhandswithIsaacs&Sons，andcongratulatedthemupontheirpublicspirit，andthetype—writerfirmupontheirpublicspirit。AndthenhesawSpearstandingapartregardinghimdoubtfully。
Speardidnotofferhishand，butMr。Thorndiketookit，andshookit，andsaid:\"Iwanttomeetyourmother。\"
AndwhenMrs。Speartriedtostopsobbinglongenoughtotellhimhowhappyshewas，andhowgrateful，heinsteadtoldherwhatafinesonshehad，andthatherememberedwhenSpearusedtocarryflowerstotownforher。Andsherememberedit，too，andthankedhimfortheflowers。AndhetoldSpear，whenIsaacs&Sonswentbankrupt，whichattheratetheyweregivingawaytheirmoneytotheHebrewHospitalwouldbeverysoon，Spearmustcomebacktohim。AndIsaacs&Sonsweredelightedatthegreatman’spleasantry，andafterwardrepeateditmanytimes，callinguponeachothertobearwitness，andSpearfeltasthoughsomeonehadgivenhimanewbackbone，andAndrews，whowasguidingThorndikeoutofthebuilding，wasthinkingtohimselfwhatagreatconfidencemanhadbeenlostwhenThorndikebecameabanker。
Thechiefclerkandtwobankmessengerswerewaitingbytheautomobilewithwrittencallsforhelpfromtheoffice。Theypounceduponthebankerandalmostliftedhimintothecar。
\"There’sstilltime！\"pantedthechiefclerk。
\"Thereisnot！\"answeredMr。Thorndike。Histonewasrebellious，defiant。Itcarriedalltheauthorityofaspoiledchildoffortune。\"I’vewastedmostofthisday，\"hedeclared，\"andI
intendtowastetherestofit。Andrews，\"hecalled，\"jumpin，andI’llgiveyoualunchatSherry’s。\"
Thevigilantprotectorofthepublicdashedbackintothebuilding。
\"WaittillIgetmyhat！\"hecalled。
Asthetwotruantsrolleduptheavenuethespringsunshinewarmedthem，thesenseofdutiesneglectedaddedzesttotheirholiday，andyoungMr。Andrewslaughedaloud。
Mr。Thorndikeraisedhiseyebrowsinquiringly。\"Iwaswondering，\"
saidAndrews，\"howmuchitcostyoutokeepSpearoutofjail？\"
\"Idon’tcare，\"saidthegreatmanguiltily;\"itwasworthit。\"
