The Prisoner. Thomas Hayes, as you hope to be saved eternally, was the pedlar drunk or sober?
Hayes. Well, if I must tell on my neighbor or else be damned, then that there pedlar was as drunk as a lord.
Here, notwithstanding the nature of the trial, the laughter was irrepressible, and Mrs. Gaunt sat quietly down (for she was allowed a seat), and said no more.
To the surgeon, who had examined the body officially, she put this question, "Did you find any signs of violence?"
The Surgeon. None whatever; but, then, there was nothing to go by, except the head and the bones.
The Prisoner. Have you experience in this kind? I mean, have you inspected murdered bodies?
The Surgeon. Yes.
The Prisoner. How many?
The Surgeon. Two before this.
The Prisoner. Oh! pray, pray, do not say "before this:" I have great hopes no murder at all hath been committed here. Let us keep to plain cases. Please you describe the injuries in those two undoubted cases.