"
_Mr. Badgerer, Q.C._ (_sulkily_). Very well. But I really don't know
how I am to conduct my case if your Ludship intervenes to check me.
(_To_ Witness.) I can ask you _this_ at any rate. Did you or did you
not run up to Town by an early train the morning after the robbery?
_Plaintiff._ Certainly I did. I went to see my tailor, in Bond Street.
_Mr. Badgerer, Q.C._ And why did you, then, go all the way from Bond
Street to the City, eh?
_Plaintiff_ (_gravelled_). My Lord, I must appeal for protection. The
question is a bullying one.
_The Judge._ Oh, certainly! Counsel has no right to ask such things.
He ought to take the charitable view of your actions, and suppose that
you went to the City for a mid-day chop, or because you wanted to
look at St. Paul's, or something of that kind. We must really try and
conduct our business as nobly as we can.
_Mr. Badgerer, Q.C._ (_pleasantly_). "_Que Messieurs les assassins
commencent!_" Then we will presume that your predilection for City
chops is so great, that you went a couple of miles out of your way to
get one, and that your reason for dropping in at the establishment
of Messrs. BLANK, Goldsmiths, and offering them half-a-dozen
dessert-plates--
_The Judge_ (_interrupting_). Oh, really, this is not at all--
_Plaintiff._ Quite the reverse. I won't stay here to be insulted by
anybody!
[_Exit hurriedly._
_Mr. Badgerer, Q.C._ I am afraid the Police Officers who are waiting
outside to arrest our friend who has just left the box will also be
denounced as "legal bullies.
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