The Attorney-General looked puzzled, as well he might; for there are some things which are beyond the learning of even an Attorney-General.
“Well,” he said, “were you matrimonially inclined towards Mr. Meeson?”
“Surely, Mr. Attorney-General,” said the Judge, “the one thing does not necessarily include the other?”
“I bow to your Lordship’s experience,” said Mr. Attorney, tartly. “Perhaps I had better put my question in this way—Had you, at any time, any prospect of becoming engaged to Mr. Meeson?”
“None whatever.”
“Did you submit to this tattooing, which must have been painful, with a view of becoming engaged to the plaintiff?”
“Certainly not. I may point out,” she added, with hesitation, “that such a disfigurement is not likely to add to anybody’s attractions.”
“Please answer my questions, Miss Smithers, and do not comment on them. How did you come, then, to submit yourself to such a disagreeable operation?”
“I submitted to it because I thought it right to do so, there being no other apparent means at hand of attaining the late Mr. Meeson’s end. Also”—and she paused.
“Also what?”