236 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



" Wliat, sir 1 " interrupted Wrangler, now losing his tem- 

 per ; " I may expect a horse- whipping, I suppose % " 



" Which would not be the first time," added Beauchamp, 

 " that a well-merited castigation of that kind had been inflicted 

 on the back of Serjeant Wrangler." A burst of laughter fol- 

 lowed this announcement, during which the Serjeant fumed and 

 fretted impatiently, showing by his fierce looks and quivering- 

 lips the storm raging within his breast \ but the cool, deter- 

 mined eye of Beauchamp fixed steadily upon his face, whilst a 

 contemptuous smile curled his upper lip, warned him that he 

 had met his match, and whispering his junior counsel to con- 

 tinue the cross-examination, he sat down, saying he would not 

 submit to these indecorous outbreaks, which were disgraceful to 

 any court of justice. 



The junior counsel, Mr. Sweetman, a tall, thin young 

 man, the reverse in appearance and manners to Serjeant 

 Wrangler, then attempted to draw Beauchamp into a confes- 

 sion of being the aggressor in the affray, by first striking Lord 

 Vancourt. 



" I was not the aggressor, sir," replied Beauchamp, in a firm 

 voice ; " for Lord Vancourt had seized Miss Douglas by the 

 arm, and was trying to drag her from the carriage when I 

 reached the spot. I then pushed him away, and attempted to 

 shut the carriage-door, upon which, instantly drawing a pistol, 

 he fired at me, the ball grazing my face ; and seeing him again 

 trying to draw another pistol from his pocket, it was then, and 

 not till then, that in defence of my own life I shot him through 

 the arm, to disable him from committing further outrage, not 

 to take his life ; for had I been so inclined, I could, without 

 doubt, have shot him dead on the spot." 



" You appear to have been actuated by a very chivalrous 

 feeling, Mr. Beauchamp, in rushing to" the rescue of this young 

 lady — perhaps I might say by a stronger impulse." 



"I was actuated by that spirit, sir, which is dominant in 

 the breast of every true Englishman — to protect a defenceless 

 woman from insult and outrage." Again a cheer arose from 

 the densely-crowded court. 



" From what occurred, Mr. Beauchamp, after Miss Douglas 

 quitted the witness-box this day, I think there can be little 

 doubt by what feelings you were really actuated." 



" You are now treading on dangerous ground, sir," replied 

 Beauchamp, indignantly, " by presuming to question my motives, 

 or to doubt my words." 



