re in such an attempt, the more
dogged and steady she would become. He therefore soon gave that
up. He had already given it up when he threatened to accuse her of
perjury, and resolved that as he could not shake her he would shake
the confidence which the jury might place in her. He could not make a
fool of her, and therefore he would make her out to be a rogue. Her
evidence would stand alone, or nearly alone; and in this way he might
turn her firmness to his own purpose, and explain that her dogged
resolution to stick to one plain statement arose from her having been
specially instructed so to do, with the object of ruining his client.
For more than half an hour he persisted in asking her questions with
this object; hinting that she was on friendly terms with Dockwrath;
asking her what pay she had received for her evidence; making her
acknowledge that she was being kept at free quarters, and on the fat
of the land. He even produced from her a list of the good things
she had eaten that morning at breakfast, and at last succeeded
in obtaining information as to that small but indiscreet glass
of spirits. It was then, and then only, that poor Bridget became
discomposed. Beefsteaks, sausages, and pigs' fry, though they were
taken three times a day, were not disgraceful in her line of life;
but that little thimble of brandy, taken after much pressing and in
the openness of good fellowship, went sorely against the grain with
her. "When one has to be badgered like this, one wants a drop of
something more than ordinary," she said at last. And they were the
only words which she did say which proved any triumph on the part
of Mr. Chaffanbrass. But nevertheless Mr. Chaffanbrass was not
dissatisfied. Triumph, immediate triumph over a poor maid-servant
could hardly have been the object of a man who had been triumphant in
such matters for the last thirty years. Would it not be practicable
to make the jury doubt whether that woman could be believed? That was
the triumph he desired. As for himself, Mr. Chaffanbrass knew well
enough that she had spoken nothing but the truth. But had he so
managed that the truth might be made to look like falsehood,--or
at any rate to have a doubtful air? If he had done that, he had
succeeded in the occupation of his life, and was indifferent to his
own triumph.

CHAPTER LXXII

MR. FURNIVAL'S SPEECH

All this as may be supposed disturbed Felix Graham not a little. He
perceived that each of t