You did, Sir,' replied the judge, with a severe frown. 'How could I have

got Daniel on my notes, unless you told me so, Sir?' This argument

was, of course, unanswerable.

'Mr Winkle has rather a short memory, my Lord,' interposed Mr

Skimpin, with another glance at the jury. 'We shall find means to

refresh it before we have quite done with him, I dare say.'

You had better be careful, Sir,' said the little judge, with a sinister

look at the witness.

Poor Mr Winkle bowed, and endeavoured to feign an easiness of

manner, which, in his then state of confusion, gave him rather the air

of a disconcerted pickpocket.

'Now, Mr Winkle,' said Mr Skimpin, 'attend to me, if you please, Sir;

and let me recommend you, for your own sake, to bear in mind his

Lordship's injunctions to be careful. I believe you are a particular

friend of Mr Pickwick, the defendant, are you not?'

'I have known Mr Pickwick now, as well as I recollect at this moment,

nearly - '

Pray, Mr Winkle, do not evade the question. Are you, or are you not, a

particular friend of the defendant's?'

I was just about to say, that - '

Will you, or will you not, answer my question, Sir?' 'If you don't

answer the question, you'll be committed, Sir,' interposed the little

judge, looking over his note-book.

Come, Sir,' said Mr Skimpin, 'yes or no, if you please.'

Yes, I am,' replied Mr Winkle.

Yes, you are. And why couldn't you say that at once, Sir? Perhaps you

know the plaintiff too? Eh, Mr Winkle?'

'I don't know her; I've seen her.'

'Oh, you don't know her, but you've seen her? Now, have the goodness

to tell the gentlemen of the jury what you mean by that, Mr Winkle.'

I mean that I am not intimate with her, but I have seen her when I

went to call on Mr Pickwick, in Goswell Street.'

'How often have you seen her, Sir?'

The Pickwick Papers