Vivie: "I have never posed as being other than what I am, a woman much interested in claiming the Parliamentary Franchise for Women; and I do not see what these questions have to do with my indictment, which is a charge of arson. You introduce all manner of irrelevant matter—"
Counsel: "You decline to answer my questions?"
(Vivie turns her head away.)
Judge, to Counsel: "I do not quite see the bearing of your enquiries."
Counsel: "Why, Me Lud, it is common talk that prisoner is the well-known barrister, David Vavasour Williams; that in this disguise and as a pretended man she passed the necessary examinations and was called to the Bar, and—"
Judge: "But what bearing has this on the present charge, which is one of Arson?"
Counsel: "I was endeavouring by my examination to show that the prisoner has often and successfully passed as a man, and that the evidence of witnesses who affirmed that they only saw a young man at or near the scene of these incendiary fires, that a young man, supposed to have set the stables alight, once dashed in and rescued two horses which had been overlooked, might well have been the prisoner who is alleged to have committed most of these crimes in man's apparel—"
Judge: "I see." (To Vivie) "Are you David Vavasour Williams?"
Vivie: "Obviously not, my Lord. My name is Vivien Warren and my sex is feminine."
Judge, to Counsel: "Well, proceed with your examination—" (But here the Leader of the prosecution takes up the rôle and brushes his junior on one side).