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If I hadn't had the Doctor with me I am sure I would never have been
able to make my way through the mob packed around the Court…house
door。 But I just followed behind him； hanging on to his coat…tails； and at
last we got safely into the jail。
〃I want to see Luke；〃 said the Doctor to a very grand person in a blue
coat with brass buttons standing at the door。
〃Ask at the Superintendent's office；〃 said the man。 〃Third door on the
left down the corridor。〃
〃Who is that person you spoke to； Doctor？〃 I asked as we went along
the passage。
〃He is a policeman。〃
〃And what are policemen？〃
〃Policemen？ They are to keep people in order。 They've just been
invented by Sir Robert Peel。 That's why they are also called 'peelers'
sometimes。 It is a wonderful age we live in。 They're always thinking of
something new This will be the Superintendent's office； I suppose。〃
From there another policeman was sent with us to show us the way。
Outside the door of Luke's cell we found Bob； the bulldog； who
wagged his tail sadly when he saw us。 The man who was guiding us took a
large bunch of keys from his pocket and opened the door。
I had never been inside a real prison…cell before； and I felt quite a thrill
when the policeman went out and locked the door after 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
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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 meafraid to speak to anyone。 They were bound
to get me in the endYes； 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
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
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。 Butwell； 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 sittingan 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 guiltywhether 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； seeonly that one's empty。〃
〃That one is called the witness…box；〃 said the Doctor。 〃Now I'm going
down to speak to one of those men in white wigs； and I want you to wait
here and keep these two seats for us。 Bob will stay with you。 Keep an eye
on himbetter hold on to his collar。 I shan't be more than a minute or so。〃
With that the Doctor disappeared into the crowd which filled the main
part of the room。
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Then I saw the judge take up a funny little wooden hammer and knock
on his desk with it。 This； it seemed； was to make people keep quiet； for
immediately every one stopped buzzing and talking and began to listen
very respectfull