WHITE. What a complicated piece of anatomy you must be.
DE W. I say, my heart is in my mouth.
WHITE. Then I wish you would swallow it, and say no more about it.
DE W. Yes, I dare say you think that a very good joke, but what I am going to tell you is no joke. If Pawkins is a thief, you shan’t have my daughter, and Tango shall.
WHITE. Monstrous!
DE W. Not at all, I give you my girl because I regard you as a noble defender of persecuted innocence; but if persecuted innocence turns out to be a low pilfering scoundrel, I naturally retract.
WHITE. But, my dear, sir, the doctrine you so strangely maintain is diametrically opposed to the very principles of British jurisprudence. It is one of the high privileges of our blessed country, and of several others, that even the vilest and meanest criminal is allowed a professional defender in the courts of justice.
DE W. Sir, it is one of the high privileges of our blessed country, and of several others, that a man need not give away his daughter where he don’t like.
WHITE. But, sir, by virtue of my profession I am positively bound to——
DE W. Well, I don’t say you’re not. But an honest man, sir, should have nothing to do with clients that don’t come into court with clean hands.