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           JudgeTaylorwasonthebench,lookinglikeasleepyoldshark,hispilotfishwritingrapidlybelowinfrontofhim.JudgeTaylorlookedlikemostjudgesIhadeverseen:amiable,white-haired,slightlyruddy-faced,hewasamanwhoranhiscourtwithanalarminginformality—hesometimesproppedhisfeetup,heoftencleanedhisfingernailswithhispocketknife.Inlongequityhearings,especiallyafterdinner,hegavetheimpressionofdozing,animpressiondispelledforeverwhenalawyeroncedeliberatelypushedapileofbookstothefloorinadesperateefforttowakehimup.Withoutopeninghiseyes,JudgeTaylormurmured,"Mr.Whitley,dothatagainandit’llcostyouonehundreddollars."

           Hewasamanlearnedinthelaw,andalthoughheseemedtotakehisjobcasually,inrealityhekeptafirmgriponanyproceedingsthatcamebeforehim.OnlyoncewasJudgeTayloreverseenatadeadstandstillinopencourt,andtheCunninghamsstoppedhim.OldSarum,theirstampinggrounds,waspopulatedbytwofamiliesseparateandapartinthebeginning,butunfortunatelybearingthesamename.TheCunninghamsmarriedtheConinghamsuntilthespellingofthenameswasacademic—academicuntilaCunninghamdisputedaConinghamoverlandtitlesandtooktothelaw