imes
prefaced by the warning, "Be careful, sir--be careful." If he could get
hold of anything against a witness's character, be it ever so small, and
at ever so remote a distance in the man's life, he brought it out; and
being a Queen's Counsel he did not always receive the reproofs that would
have crushed a stuff gownsman into respectable behaviour.

"Were you charged with assaulting a female in the public streets, sir?"

"No, I worn't."

"Be careful, sir--she may be in Court."

"Let her come forward then," said the courageous Silverspoon, who was by
no means wanting in tact.

"Will you be quiet, sir," retorted Ricochet. "Now Mr. Bumpkin, or
whatever your name is, will you swear she did not accuse you of
assaulting her?"

"She coomed oop, and it's my belief she wur in the robbery."

"Bravo Bumpkin!" said one of the men who had chaffed him. And the jury
looked at one another in a manner that showed approval.

"Will you swear, sir, you have never been in trouble?"

"I donnow what thee means."

"Be careful, sir; you know what I mean perfectly well."

Then Locust whispers to him, and he says:

"O, you frequent Music Halls, don't you?"

"Donnow what thee means," says Bumpkin.

"O, you don't, don't you; will you swear that?"

"I wool."

"Be careful, sir. Were you at the Canterbury Hall with two women, who
passed as the Countess and Lady Flora?"

"It be a lie!"

And thus every form of torture was ruthlessly employed, till Mr. Bumpkin
broke down under it, and cried like a child in the witness-box. This
awakened sympathy for him. There had been much humour and much laughter;
and Mr. Ricochet having no knowledge of human nature, was not aware how
closely allied are laughter and tears; that in proportion as the jury had
laughed at the expense of Mr. Bumpkin they would sympathize with his
unhappy position.

"I've worked hard," said he, "for sixty year, and let any man come
forrard and say I've wronged man, ooman, or child!"

That was a point for Bumpkin. Every one said, "Poor old man!" and even
his Lordship, who was supposed to have no feeling, was quite sympathetic.
Only Mr. Ricochet was obtuse. He had no heart, and very little skill, or
he would have managed his case more adroitly. "Badgering" is not much
use if you have no better mode of winning your case.

"Stand down, Mr. Bumpkin," said his counsel, as Mr. Ricochet resumed his
seat amid the suppressed hisses of the gallery.

"Joseph Wurze