AtfirsttherewasadeadsilenceintheCourt. Theneverybodybeganwhisperingorgigglingatthesametime,tillthewholeroomsoundedlikeagreathiveofbees. Manypeopleseemedtobeshocked;mostofthemwereamused;andafewwereangry. Presentlyupsprangthenastylawyerwiththelongnose. "Iprotest,YourHonor,"hecried,wavinghisarmswildlytothejudge."Iobject.Thedignityofthiscourtisinperil.Iprotest." "Iamtheonetotakecareofthedignityofthiscourt,"saidthejudge. ThenMr.Jenkynsgotupagain.(Ifithadn'tbeensuchaseriousmatter,itwasalmostlikeaPunch-and-Judyshow:somebodywasalwayspoppingdownandsomebodyelsepoppingup). "Ifthereisanydoubtonthescoreofourbeingabletodoaswesay,YourHonorwillhavenoobjection,Itrust,totheDoctor'sgivingtheCourtademonstrationofhispowers—ofshowingthatheactuallycanunderstandthespeechofanimals?" IthoughtIsawatwinkleofamusementcomeintotheoldjudge'seyesashesatconsideringamomentbeforeheanswered. "No,"hesaidatlast,"Idon'tthinkso."ThenheturnedtotheDoctor. "Areyouquitesureyoucandothis?"heasked. "Quite,YourHonor,"saidtheDoctor—"quitesure." "Verywellthen,"saidthejudge."Ifyoucansatisfyusthatyoureallyareabletounderstandcaninetestimony,thedogshallbeadmittedasawitness. Idonotsee,inthatcase,howIcouldobjecttohisbeingheard. ButIwarnyouthatifyouaretryingtomakealaughing-stockofthisCourtitwillgohardwithyou." "Iprotest,Iprotest!"yelledthelong-nosedProsecutor."Thisisascandal,anoutragetotheBar!" "Sitdown!"saidthejudgeinaverysternvoice. "WhatanimaldoesYourHonorwishmetotalkwith?"askedtheDoctor. "Iwouldlikeyoutotalktomyowndog,"saidthejudge."Heisoutsideinthecloak-room.Iwillhavehimbroughtin;andthenweshallseewhatyoucando." Thensomeonewentoutandfetchedthejudge'sdog,alovelygreatRussianwolf-houndwithslenderlegsandashaggycoat.Hewasaproudandbeautifulcreature. "Now,Doctor,"saidthejudge,"didyoueverseethisdogbefore?—Rememberyouareinthewitness-standandunderoath." "No,YourHonor,Ineversawhimbefore." "Verywellthen,willyoupleaseaskhimtotellyouwhatIhadforsupperlastnight?HewaswithmeandwatchedmewhileIate." ThentheDoctorandthedogstartedtalkingtooneanotherinsignsandsounds;andtheykeptatitforquitealongtime. AndtheDoctorbegantogiggleandgetsointerestedthatheseemedtoforgetallabouttheCourtandthejudgeandeverythingelse. "Whatatimehetakes!"Iheardafatwomaninfrontofmewhispering."He'sonlypretending.Ofcoursehecan'tdoit!Whoeverheardoftalkingtoadog?Hemustthinkwe'rechildren." "Haven'tyoufinishedyet?"thejudgeaskedtheDoctor."Itshouldn'ttakethatlongjusttoaskwhatIhadforsupper." "Ohno,YourHonor,"saidtheDoctor."Thedogtoldmethatlongago.Butthenhewentontotellmewhatyoudidaftersupper." "Nevermindthat,"saidthejudge."Tellmewhatanswerhegaveyoutomyquestion." "Hesaysyouhadamutton-chop,twobakedpotatoes,apickledwalnutandaglassofale." TheHonorableEustaceBeauchampConckleywentwhitetothelips. "Soundslikewitchcraft,"hemuttered."Ineverdreamed—" "Andafteryoursupper,"theDoctorwenton,"hesaysyouwenttoseeaprize-fightandthensatupplayingcardsformoneytilltwelveo'clockandcamehomesinging,'Wewontget—'" "Thatwilldo,"thejudgeinterrupted,"Iamsatisfiedyoucandoasyousay.Theprisoner'sdogshallbeadmittedasawitness." "Iprotest,Iobject!"screamedtheProsecutor."YourHonor,thisis—" "Sitdown!"roaredthejudge."Isaythedogshallbeheard.Thatendsthematter.Putthewitnessinthestand." AndthenforthefirsttimeinthesolemnhistoryofEnglandadogwasputinthewitness-standofHerMajesty'sCourtofAssizes. AnditwasI,TommyStubbins(whentheDoctormadeasigntomeacrosstheroom)whoproudlyledBobuptheaisle,throughtheastonishedcrowd,pastthefrowning,spluttering,long-nosedProsecutor,andmadehimcomfortableonahighchairinthewitness-box;fromwheretheoldbulldogsatscowlingdownovertherailupontheamazedandgapingjury. 
