Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 368: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Dickwick Abroad. 305 This reply excited general astonishment, particularly in that in- closure which we before described as allotted to the audience, and where a gentleman without a coat whispered to another, whose shoes were curiously contrived to let in the fresh air at the toes, that ‘‘he knew there was a good many asses in the House of Commons; but that he never before heard of there being any horses there.”” The matter was, however, speedily explained by Mr. William Sugden, who set all doubt and uncertainty at rest, by assuring the Court that the Opposition was the name of a coach on the Brighton road, and that the horses in question, had been sold at a remarkably reduced rate to the proprietor thereof. Mr. Michael Nagsflesh having thus terminated his opposition, by causing the elucidation of another, Mr. Roughrow arose, brushed a little flue off the handsome velvet facings of his coat, and prepared to interrogate the witness. | ‘“Now, Mr. Michael Nagsflesh,” said Mr. Roughrow, “did you not, upon your oath, engage the Insolvent to accept fresh credit of you on his return from France three or four months ago ?” ‘*No, Sir—I did not. He first called upon me—”’ ‘* He first called upon you. Well—and what did you say to him ?” proceeded the Counsel. ‘“*T asked him how he was getting on,” was the answer. ‘* You asked him how he was getting on. And what reply did he make ?”” demanded Mr. Roughrow. ‘‘Swimmingly,” returned Mr. Nagsflesh. ““Swimmingly,”’ repeated Mr. Roughrow. ‘* And what did you say then ?” - ‘That I was very glad to hear it.”’ ‘“‘ That you were very glad to hear it. Now, Sir—upon your oath,”’ continued the Counsel, shaking his brief ina menacing manner, ‘‘ what took place after this interchange of compliments ?” ‘“‘He asked me to lend him five pounds, which I did,” was the immediate reply. “Which you did. But was not something said about horses on that occasion 2” “<T think I intimated that I had two fine horses to dispose of; but I’m not sure,” replied Mr, Nagsflesh. ‘You think you intimated that you had two fine horses to dispose of; but you are not sure,’ said Mr. Roughrow. ‘Now, Sir, will you undertake to swear that you did not say so?” -*©No, Sir, I will not.” “You will not. Did you not tell Mr. Sugden that you would put a commission in his pocket for any order he could get you 2?” ‘“That was on another occasion, Sir.” ‘<That was on another occasion. Well—how long after the first call was it, then ?”’ ‘<The next day.” ““The next day,” continued Mr. Roughrow. ‘“ Now two more questions, Sir—and I have done. Did you not, through the recom- mendation of the Insolvent, dispose of a horse to a Mr. Dunn Browne, after you had sold the two horses to the Insolvent ?”’ “J did, Sir,”’ was the answer. CORNICMAOOKS (C(O)