“Michael,” cried Rosamund, wringing her hands, “how can you stand there talking nonsense? Why, you saw the dreadful thing yourself. You were there when he went mad. It was you that helped the doctor up when he fell over the flowerpot.”

“And the High Court of Beacon,” replied Moon with hauteur, “has special powers in all cases concerning lunatics, flowerpots, and doctors who fall down in gardens. It’s in our very first charter from Edward I : ‘ Si medicus quisquam in horto prostratus⁠— ’ ”

“Out of the way!” cried Warner with sudden fury, “or we will force you out of it.”