Вітер у вербах

           Heincreasedhispace,andasthecardevouredthestreetandleaptforthonthehighroadthroughtheopencountry,hewasonlyconsciousthathewasToadoncemore,Toadathisbestandhighest,Toadtheterror,thetraffic-queller,theLordofthelonetrail,beforewhomallmustgivewayorbesmittenintonothingnessandeverlastingnight.Hechantedasheflew,andthecarrespondedwithsonorousdrone;themileswereeatenupunderhimashespedheknewnotwhither,fulfillinghisinstincts,livinghishour,recklessofwhatmightcometohim.

           "Tomymind,"observedtheChairmanoftheBenchofMagistratescheerfully,"theonlydifficultythatpresentsitselfinthisotherwiseveryclearcaseis,howwecanpossiblymakeitsufficientlyhotfortheincorrigiblerogueandhardenedruffianwhomweseecoweringinthedockbeforeus.Letmesee:hehasbeenfoundguilty,ontheclearestevidence,first,ofstealingavaluablemotor-car;secondly,ofdrivingtothepublicdanger;and,thirdly,ofgrossimpertinencetotheruralpolice.Mr.Clerk,willyoutellus,please,whatistheverystiffestpenaltywecanimposeforeachoftheseoffences?Without,ofcourse,givingtheprisonerthebenefitofanydoubt,becausethereisn’tany."

           TheClerkscratchedhisnosewithhispen."Somepeoplewouldconsider,"heobserved,"thatstealingthemotor-carwastheworstoffence;andsoitis.Butcheekingthepoliceundoubtedlycarriestheseverestpenalty;andsoitought.