"They'd attach every acre of your estate."
"Much good it would do them," said I. "We're in the Encumbered Court already."
"Whatever your income may be derived from, they 're sure to discover it."
"Faith!" said I, "I 'd be grateful to them for the information, for it's two months now since I beard from Tom Purcell, and I don't know where I'm to get a shilling!"
"But what are damages, after all!" said he; "nothing, absolutely nothing!"
"Nothing indeed!" said I.
"And look at the misery through which a man most wade ere be attain to them. A public trial, a rule to show cause, a motion,—three or four thousand gone for that. The case heard at Westminster Hall,—forty-seven witnesses brought over special from different parts of the Continent, at from two guineas to ten per diem, and travelling expenses,—what money could stand it; and see what it comes to: you ruin some poor devil without benefiting yourself. That 's the folly of it! Believe me, Dodd, the only people that get any enjoyment out of these cases are the lawyers!"
"I can believe it well, my Lord."
"I know it,—I know it, sir," said he, fiercely. "I have already told you that I 'm no humbug. I don't want to pretend to any nonsense about virtue, and all that. I was once in my life—I was young, it is true—in the same predicament you now stand in. It won't do to speak of the parties, but I suspect our cases were very similar. The friend who acted for the husband happened to be one who knew all my family and connections. He came frankly to me, and said,—
"'Bruce, this affair will come to a trial,—the damages will be laid at ten thousand,—the costs will be about three more. Can you meet that?'