250 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



to get as much fun out of the whole performance as possible. 

 At one of Ronald's questions, Jack observed to Tommy — 

 " That's a rum one for the lady to explain away. I fancy 

 it'll make old Silky ' sit up and purr.' " But at that moment 

 Mr. Binkie rose, and, in an agitated whisper to his Counsel, 

 begged that gentleman not to press his question. 



Ronald looked somewhat astonished. 



"But, my dear fellow, I must ask these questions, if we 

 are to succeed. And I don't think the other side fancy their 

 case very much now. We shall win, but you really must let 

 me take my own course, you know." 



"But you — oh, really! you know, it's so doosid beastly, 

 you know, to ask such rude questions, you know ! " 



" Shut up. Trousers; don't you see he's doing his best for 

 you, you owl ! " politely remarked Jack, and poor Travers, 

 almost in tears, subsided into his seat again. 



Unmoved by this interruption and request on the part of his 

 client, Ronald continued his cross-examination searchingly to 

 the end. Mr. Silky put a few questions in re-examination 

 to the plaintiff, and then she quickly resigned her place in the 

 witness-box to ' Ma ' Turnover, who at once proceeded to draw 

 upon a somewhat fertile imagination, and indulge in some 

 statements which fairly staggered the unhappy defendant. 



Before it came to Ronald's turn to test, by cross-examina- 

 tion, the truth of the evidence adduced by her, Mr. Justice 

 Smotherum shufHed his feet about uneasily, glanced at the 

 clock, coughed, and at last observed — 



"As we cannot possibly finish this case to-night" ("and 

 as I l)adly want a cigar and a rubber at the Club," he added 

 to himself), "perhaps the present stage would be a good one at 



