"Remember, Prendergast, that your evidence is again incomplete."
"Upon my word, sir, I do not think it is: it would be sufficient for any intellectual jury in a Common Law court," said Mr. Prendergast, who sometimes, behind his back, gave to Mr. Die the surname of Cunctator.
"But juries in Common Law courts are not always intelligent. And you may be sure, Prendergast, that any gentleman taking up the case on the other side would have as much to say for his client as your counsel would have for yours. Remember, you have not even been to Putney yet."
"Been to Putney!" said Herbert, who was becoming uneasy.
"The onus probandi would lie with them," said Mr. Prendergast. "We take possession of that which is our own till it is proved to belong to others."
"You have already abandoned the possession."
"No; we have done nothing already: we have taken no legal step; when we believed—"
"Having by your own act put yourself in your present position, I think you ought to be very careful before you take up another."
"Certainly we ought to be careful. But I do maintain that we may be too punctilious. As a matter of course I shall go to Putney."
"To Putney!" said Herbert Fitzgerald.