THE LAWYER BAFFLED BY MARK ROSIER. 237 



" I beg pardon, Mr. Beauchanip, if I have given you offence, 

 and can only say it was not so intended by me." 



" There was sufficient cause for my rushing to the rescue of 

 my sister's dearest friend," continued Beauchanip. 



" Oh, certainly, Mr. Beauchanip ; but evidently the young 

 lady was your friend also, if not something more/' 



" Then, sir, by your own showing, it is not possible she could 

 have been a consenting party to this projected elopement, 

 which your learned brother has been so fruitlessly attempting 

 to prove." 



A sharp tug at his gown brought the young barrister 

 immediately to his seat, Wrangler whispering in his ear, " Sit 

 down, sir ; you are playing the devil with our case ! " 



A triumphant smile played over the features of Mr. Whalley 

 as he inquired of Mr. Sweetman whether he wished to ask Mr. 

 Beauchanip any more questions. 



" No, sir," was the curt reply. 



Mark Rosier then ascended the witness-box, and gave his 

 evidence in a short, conclusive manner, maintaining the fact of 

 Beau champ being shot at first by Lord Yancourt, and his being 

 wounded in the side by John Thompson, who had turned king's 

 evidence, identifying also the two prisoners, Harding and Jones, 

 as participators in the affray. 



" In fact, sir," said Mark, pointing to a scar under his eye, 

 "this is a little favour from Mr. Harding's cudgel, which '11 

 remind me of that gentleman for some time to come." 



"I must trouble you with a few questions, Mr. Rosier," 

 exclaimed Serjeant Wrangler, as he was leaving the box. 



" No trouble at all, sir," replied Mark, good-humouredly. 



" I think, Mr. Rosier, you are a person of that profession 

 which filches pheasants and other game from gentlemen's 

 preserves 1 " 



" And I think, Mr. Serjeant Wrangler," retorted Mark, 

 boldly looking his adversary in the face and mimicking him to 

 the life, " you are a person of that profession which filches 

 monej 7- from gentlemen's pockets ; " which caused a loud laugh 

 among the crowd. 



"How dare you, sir, speak to me in that disrespectful 

 language ? " demanded Wrangler, looking red-hot with passion. 



"How dare you, sir, accuse me of robbing gentlemen's 

 preserves ? I'll make you prove your words, Lawyer Wrangler, 

 trying to take away poor men's characters." 



"Will you tell me, Mr. Rosier, that you have never 



