How often?'

Yes, Mr Winkle, how often? I'll repeat the question for you a dozen

times, if you require it, Sir.' And the learned gentleman, with a firm

and steady frown, placed his hands on his hips, and smiled

suspiciously to the jury.

On this question there arose the edifying brow-beating, customary on

such points. First of all, Mr Winkle said it was quite impossible for

him to say how many times he had seen Mrs. Bardell. Then he was

asked if he had seen her twenty times, to which he replied, 'Certainly -

more than that.' Then he was asked whether he hadn't seen her a

hundred times - whether he couldn't swear that he had seen her more

than fifty times - whether he didn't know that he had seen her at

least seventy-five times, and so forth; the satisfactory conclusion

which was arrived at, at last, being, that he had better take care of

himself, and mind what he was about. The witness having been by

these means reduced to the requisite ebb of nervous perplexity, the

examination was continued as follows -

Pray, Mr Winkle, do you remember calling on the defendant Pickwick

at these apartments in the plaintiff's house in Goswell Street, on one

particular morning, in the month of July last?'

Yes, I do.'

'Were you accompanied on that occasion by a friend of the name of

Tupman, and another by the name of Snodgrass?'

Yes, I was.'

Are they here?' 'Yes, they are,' replied Mr Winkle, looking very

earnestly towards the spot where his friends were stationed.

Pray attend to me, Mr Winkle, and never mind your friends,' said Mr

Skimpin, with another expressive look at the jury. 'They must tell

their stories without any previous consultation with you, if none has

yet taken place (another look at the jury). Now, Sir, tell the gentlemen

of the jury what you saw on entering the defendant's room, on this

particular morning. Come; out with it, Sir; we must have it, sooner or

later.'

'The defendant, Mr Pickwick, was holding the plaintiff in his arms,

with his hands clasping her waist,' replied Mr Winkle with natural

hesitation, 'and the plaintiff appeared to have fainted away.'

Did you hear the defendant say anything?'

The Pickwick Papers