that, relying on the said Joseph’s word, they took away the said corn, but having occasion at the inn to look into the said sacks, they found that the said wheat was worthless, and immediately communicated with the said Joseph by sending their younger brother Simeon down to demand a return of the price of the said corn. But when the said Simeon came to the said Joseph the said Joseph caught him, and kicked him, and beat him with a great stick, and had him to prison, and would not restore him to his brethren, the defendants. Whereupon the defendants sent other messengers, and at length, after being detained a long time at the said inn, the said Joseph came down, and on being shown the said corn, admitted that it was in bad condition. Whereupon the defendants, fearing to trust the said Joseph with the said sacks until they had got a return of their said money, demanded that he, the said Joseph, should put the full tale of every man’s money in the sack of the said man; which thing the said Joseph agreed to, and placed every man’s money in the mouth of his said sack. And when the said man was about to reach forth his hand to take his said money, the said Joseph seized the said hand and held him fast—.”
“Stop, stop!” cried my wife; “the said Joseph had not ten hands. You must surely draw the line somewhere.”
“No, no,” said I, “that is good pleading; if the other side should omit to deny it, it will be taken by the rules of pleading to be admitted.”
“But surely you can’t admit impossibilities!”
“Can’t you, though!” cried I. “You can do almost anything in pleading.”
“Except, it seems to me, tell the truth.”
“You mustn’t be too hard upon us poor juniors,” cried I. “I haven’t come to the Counterclaim yet.”
“O don’t let us have Counterclaims,” quoth she; “they can have no claim against Joseph?”
“What, not for selling them smutty wheat?”
“Nonsense.”