were you so anxious to break it off just then? . . . . Well, when you were cross-examining the plaintiff you asked her about a certain china ornament you had given her, which seems to have been originally intended for another young lady. We needn't mention her name here—but you made her acquaintance some time after your engagement, didn't you? . . . . And since you left Porticobello House, you have seen a good deal of her, eh? . . . . You were a great admirer of hers, weren't you? . . . . I'm not asking you whether she is engaged to a Scotch gentleman at the present moment—I'm putting it to you that, at the time you were writing these letters to the plaintiff, you had already formed the conclusion that this other young lady was more deserving of the honour of being the second Mrs Jabberjee I am not suggesting that you could help it—but wasn't it so? . . . . Very well—that is all I have to ask you Mr Jabberjee. You can go. . . . .
I must not omit to record that my replies and the reading of my letters did excite frequent and vociferous merriment, and in other respects I have testified so exhaustively that my solicitor informs me it is not worth a candle to call any further witnesses—especially as Hon'ble Cummerbund has intimated that he prefers to blow unseen, and as for Baboo Chuckerbutty Ram, he, it seems, has of course been seized by such
