“And every word in it,” faltered Bassett, now ashy pale, for he began to see the trap.
“Then you wrote this word 'character,' and this word 'injured,' and this word—”
The Judge (peevishly).—He tells you he wrote every word in those letters to Lady Bassett.—What more would you have?
Counsel.—If your lordship will be good enough to examine the correspondence, and compare those words in it I have underlined with the same words in the anonymous letter, you will perhaps find I know my business better than you seem to think. (The counsel who ventured on this remonstrance was a sergeant.)
“Brother Eitherside,” said the judge, with a charming manner, “you satisfied me of that, to my cost, long ago, whenever I had you against me in a case. Please hand me the letters.”
While the judge was making a keen comparison, counsel continued the cross-examination.
“You are aware that this letter caused a separation between Sir Charles Bassett and the lady he was engaged to?”
“I know nothing about it.”
“Indeed! Well, were you acquainted with the Miss Somerset mentioned in this letter?”
“Slightly.”