those extraordinary twins-第11章
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even the prosecution took fright and came to the rescue then； and helped
stay the sturdy jurist's revolutionary hand。 So the case had to go to
the jury with that important point hanging in the air。 They were out an
hour and brought in this verdict：
〃We the jury do find： 1； that an assault was committed； as charged；
2； that it was committed by one of the persons accused； he having been
seen to do it by several credible witnesses； 3； but that his identity is
so merged in his brother's that we have not been able to tell which was
him。 We cannot convict both； for only one is guilty。 We cannot acquit
both； for only one is innocent。 Our verdict is that justice has been
defeated by the dispensation of God； and ask to be discharged from
further duty。〃
This was read aloud in court and brought out a burst of hearty applause。
The old ladies made a spring at the twins； to shake and congratulate； but
were gently disengaged by Mr。 Wilson and softly crowded back into their
places。
The judge rose in his little tribune； laid aside his silver…bowed
spectacles； roached his gray hair up with his fingers； and said； with
dignity and solemnity； and even with a certain pathos：
〃In all my experience on the bench； I have not seen justice bow her head
in shame in this court until this day。 You little realize what far…
reaching harm has just been wrought here under the fickle forms of law。
Imitation is the bane of courtsI thank God that this one is free from
the contamination of that viceand in no long time you will see the
fatal work of this hour seized upon by profligate so…called guardians of
justice in all the wide circumstance of this planet and perpetuated in
their pernicious decisions。 I wash my hands of this iniquity。 I would
have compelled these culprits to expose their guilt； but support failed
me where I had most right to expect aid and encouragement。 And I was
confronted by a law made in the interest of crime； which protects the
criminal from testifying against himself。 Yet I had precedents of my own
whereby I had set aside that law on two different occasions and thus
succeeded in convicting criminals to whose crimes there were no witnesses
but themselves。 What have you accomplished this day？ Do you realize it？
You have set adrift； unadmonished； in this community； two men endowed
with an awful and mysterious gift； a hidden and grisly power for evil
a power by which each in his turn may commit crime after crime of the
most heinous character； and no man be able to tell which is the guilty or
which the innocent party in any case of them all。 Look to your homes
look to your property look to your lives for you have need！
〃Prisoners at the bar； stand up。 Through suppression of evidence； a jury
of yourourcountrymen have been obliged to deliver a verdict
concerning your case which stinks to heaven with the rankness of its
injustice。 By its terms you； the guilty one； go free with the innocent。
Depart in peace； and come no more！ The costs devolve upon the outraged
plaintiffanother iniquity。 The court stands dissolved。〃
Almost everybody crowded forward to overwhelm the twins and their counsel
with congratulations； but presently the two old aunties dug the
duplicates out and bore them away in triumph through the hurrahing crowd；
while lots of new friends carried Pudd'nhead Wilson off tavernward to
feast him and 〃wet down〃 his great and victorious entry into the legal
arena。 To Wilson； so long familiar with neglect and depreciation； this
strange new incense of popularity and admiration was as a fragrance blown
from the fields of paradise。 A happy man was Wilson。
CHAPTER VI
THE AMAZING DUEL
A deputation came in the evening and conferred upon Wilson the
welcome honor of a nomination for mayor； for the village has just
been converted into a city by charter。 Tom skulks out of
challenging the twins。 Judge Driscoll thereupon challenges Angelo
（accused by Tom of doing the kicking）； he declines； but Luigi
accepts in his place against Angelo's timid protest。
It was late Saturday night nearing eleven。
The judge and his second found the rest of the war party at the further
end of the vacant ground； near the haunted house。 Pudd'nhead Wilson
advanced to meet them； and said anxiously：
〃I must say a word in behalf of my principal's proxy； Count Luigi； to
whom you have kindly granted the privilege of fighting my principal's
battle for him。 It is growing late； and Count Luigi is in great trouble
lest midnight shall strike before the finish。〃
〃It is another testimony；〃 said Howard； approvingly。 〃That young man is
fine all through。 He wishes to save his brother the sorrow of fighting
on the Sabbath； and he is right； it is the right and manly feeling and
does him credit。 We will make all possible haste。〃
Wilson said： 〃There is also another reasona consideration； in fact；
which deeply concerns Count Luigi himself。 These twins have command of
their mutual legs turn about。 Count Luigi is in command now； but at
midnight； possession will pass to my principal； Count Angelo； andwell；
you can foresee what will happen。 He will march straight off the field；
and carry Luigi with him。〃
〃Why！ sure enough！〃 cried the judge； 〃we have heard something about that
extraordinary law of their being； alreadynothing very definite； it is
true； as regards dates and durations of power； but I see it is definite
enough as regards to…night。 Of course we must give Luigi every chance。
Omit all the ceremonial possible； gentlemen； and place us in position。〃
The seconds at once tossed up a coin； Howard won the choice。 He placed
the judge sixty feet from the haunted house and facing it； Wilson placed
the twins within fifteen feet of the house and facing the judge
necessarily。 The pistol…case was opened and the long slim tubes taken
out； when the moonlight glinted from them a shiver went through Angelo。
The doctor was a fool； but a thoroughly well…meaning one； with a kind
heart and a sincere disposition to oblige； but along with it an absence
of tact which often hurt its effectiveness。 He brought his box of lint
and bandages； and asked Angelo to feel and see how soft and comfortable
they were。 Angelo's head fell over against Luigi's in a faint； and
precious time was lost in bringing him to； which provoked Luigi into
expressing his mind to the doctor with a good deal of vigor and
frankness。 After Angelo came to he was still so weak that Luigi was
obliged to drink a stiff horn of brandy to brace him up。
The seconds now stepped at once to their posts； halfway between the
combatants； one of them on each side of the line of fire。 Wilson was to
count； very deliberately； 〃 One…two…three…fire！stop ！〃 and the duelists
could bang away at any time they chose during that recitation； but not
after the last word。 Angelo grew very nervous when he saw Wilson's hand
rising slowly into the air as a sign to make ready； and he leaned his
head against Luigi's and said：
〃Oh； please take me away from here； I can't stay； I know I can't！〃
〃What in the world are you doing？ Straighten up！ What's the matter with
you？you're in no dangernobody's going to shoot at you。 Straighten
up； I tell you！〃
Angelo obeyed； just in time to hear：
〃One！〃
〃Bang！〃 Just one report； and a little tuft of white hair floated slowly
to the judge's feet in the moonlight。 The judge did not swerve； he still
stood erect and motionless； like a statue； with his pistol…arm hanging
straight down at his side。 He was reserving his fire。
〃Two！〃
〃Three〃！
〃Fire！〃
Up came the pistol…arm instantly…Angelo dodged with the report。 He said
〃Ouch！〃 and fainted again。
The doctor examined and bandaged the wound。
It was of no consequence； he saidbullet through fleshy part of armno
bones broken the gentleman was still able to fight let the duel proceed。
Next time Angelo jumped just as Luigi fired； which disordered his aim and
caused him to cut a chip off of Howard's ear。 The judge took his time
again； and when he fired Angelo jumped and got a knuckle skinned。 The
doctor inspected and dressed the wounds。 Angelo now spoke out and sa
