And then the Honourable Undecimus Scott was put into the witness-box. It was suggested, on his behalf, that he might give his evidence from the seat which he then occupied, but this Mr. Chaffanbrass would by no means allow. His intercourse with Mr. Scott, he said, must be of a nearer, closer, and more confidential nature than such an arrangement as that would admit. A witness, to his way of thinking, was never an efficient witness till he had his arm on the rail of a witness-box. He must trouble Mr. Scott to descend from the grandeur of his present position; he might return to his seat after he had been examined—if he then should have a mind to do so. Our friend Undy found that he had to obey, and he was soon confronted with Mr. Chaffanbrass in the humbler manner which that gentleman thought so desirable.
'You are a member of the House of Commons, I believe, Mr. Scott?' began Mr. Chaffanbrass.
Undy acknowledged that he was so.
'And you are the son of a peer, I believe?'
'A Scotch peer,' said Undy.
'Oh, a Scotch peer,' said Mr. Chaffanbrass, bringing his wig forward over his left eye in a manner that was almost irresistible—'a Scotch peer—a member of Parliament, and son of a Scotch peer; and you have been a member of the Government, I believe, Mr. Scott?'
Undy confessed that he had been in office for a short time.
'A member of Parliament, a son of a peer, and one of the Government of this great and free country. You ought to be a proud and a happy man. You are a man of fortune, too, I believe, Mr. Scott?'
'That is a matter of opinion,' said Undy; 'different people have different ideas. I don't know what you call fortune.'
'Why I call £20,000 a fortune—this sum that the lady had who married the Frenchman. Have you £20,000?'