'I shall not answer that question.'
'Have you £10,000? You surely must have as much as that, as I know you married a fortune yourself,—unless, indeed, a false-hearted trustee has got hold of your money also. Come, have you got £10,000?'
'I shall not answer you.'
'Have you got any income at all? Now, I demand an answer to that on your oath, sir.'
'My lord, must I answer such questions?' said Undy.
'Yes, sir; you must answer them, and many more like them,' said Mr. Chaffanbrass. 'My lord, it is essential to my client that I should prove to the jury whether this witness is or is not a penniless adventurer; if he be a respectable member of society, he can have no objection to let me know whether he has the means of living.'
'Perhaps, Mr. Scott,' said the judge, 'you will not object to state whether or no you possess any fixed income.'
'Have you, or have you not, got an income on which you live?' demanded Mr. Chaffanbrass.
'I have an income,' said Undy, not, however, in a voice that betokened much self-confidence in the strength of his own answer.
'You have an income, have you? And now, Mr. Scott, will you tell us what profession you follow at this moment with the object of increasing your income? I think we may surmise, by the tone of your voice, that your income is not very abundant.'