The Professor recalled all that he had read of lunacy in its various forms (and that was a great deal more than was good for him), but he could see no trace of insanity in either of the two faces before him. If anything, the innocence of youth which they betrayed, coupled with an obviously strained and unnatural determination, was quite the other way.
Melba chimed in with his high voice again—
"And lucky you didn't get something worse!"
"Don't, Melba!" said Jimmy authoritatively.
He was evidently the moderate man of the two, the man of judgment, and instinctively the learned victim determined to lean upon him in whatever incongruous adventures might threaten.
"We had to do it," continued Jimmy, "because there wasn't any law. Mind you, we haven't done this without asking! But when there isn't any law you have to take the law into your own hands, haven't you, Melba?" he said, turning to his accomplice.
"Yes," piped Melba, "civil and criminal. He ought to have a lathering."
His blue, prominent eyes had a glare of
