"I know that," said the witness viciously; "and I say that you've no business to make any such insinuations to a respectable young lady when there's a cook-housekeeper and a kitchenmaid living in the house, and him old enough to be my father——"
Here his lordship flattened his eyelids with startling effect, and Mr. Loram interrupted: "I make no insinuations. I merely ask, Is your employer, Mr. Hurst, an unmarried man, or is he not?"
"I never asked him," said the witness sulkily.
"Please answer my question—yes or no."
"How can I answer your question? He may be married or he may not. How do I know? I'm no private detective."
Mr. Loram directed a stupefied gaze at the witness, and in the ensuing silence a plaintiff [Transcriber's note: plaintive?] voice came from the bench:
"Is that point material?"
"Certainly, my lord," replied Mr. Loram.
"Then, as I see that you are calling Mr. Hurst, perhaps you had better put the question to him. He will probably know."
Mr. Loram bowed, and as the Judge subsided into his normal state of coma he turned to the triumphant witness.