The district in which Mr.Marthorne resides chances to be somewhat populous, and to include one or two turbulent places that furnish a steady supply of offenders.

The practice therefore is to hold two Courts a week; at one of these, on the Saturday, the more important cases are arranged to be heard, when there are always plenty of magistrates.

At the other, on the Tuesday, remands and smaller matters are taken, and there then used to be some delay.
One justice thought his neighbour would go, another thought the same of his neighbour, and the result was nobody went.

Having tacitly bound themselves to attend once a week, the justices, many of whom resided miles away, did not care formally to pledge themselves to be invariably present on a second day.

Sometimes the business on that second day was next to nothing, but occasionally serious affairs turned up, when messengers had to be despatched to gather a quorum.
But latterly this uncertainty has been put an end to through the regular attendance of young Squire Marthorne, of Marthorne House.