Sinson hesitated for some time, and made no answer.
"Do you hear, sir?" Rereworth continued. "What is to be your hire for slandering your mother's sister?"
The plaintiff's counsel interposed, and protested against his learned friend's so discrediting his own witness.
"I consider," the witness said, having recovered himself, "that my unfortunate relative was deceived in the business. It was no fault of hers."
Rereworth now turned to Michael's connection with Everope. Asked how the acquaintance began; how long it had lasted; how the spendthrift came to communicate the story which he told in court; what Sinson knew of his habits and associates; whether he provided him with a maintenance? Then he reverted to the journey into Cornwall, of which Everope had given so frank an explanation; and concluded by again questioning the witness respecting any expectation of reward which he entertained or had held forth as the consequence of success in this action.
"Do you expect any reward at all, sir?" Michael was asked, in cross-examination. "Have any promises been made to you?"
"No," he answered, "I have been only doing my duty, and expect nothing."
"And have you, in fact, held out any expectations to the witness Everope?"
"None whatever."
"Well, sir, is it not matter of notoriety that there was great doubt about this pretended marriage?"