Page:English laws for women in the nineteenth century.djvu/93

81 Mr Norton's own solicitor, in the forlorn hope that he might be acting against advice. I settled the first action brought against Mr Norton by promising to pay it myself, with all expenses, so soon as that should be possible. I had been subpoenaed as witness, in that and other cases; and I must observe (for many persons misunderstand this), that attendance on subpoena is compulsory, not voluntary. Mr Norton, in the subsequent case that came into court, subpoenaed a person who had been my maid; subpoenaed my bankers; compelled them to produce their books, and sent his attorney to make extracts at their bank, of all sums entered in my private account. He also subpoenaed my publishers; to compel them to declare what were the copyrights they held of me, and what sums they had paid me.

It is not to be supposed that these gentlemen had any pleasure in coming forward; or volunteered to uphold a defence grounded on a disgraceful quibble. They attended,—as I attended,—on subpoena; a legal summons, the punishment for disobeying which is a fine, or imprisonment for contempt. Subpoenaed again,—in a fresh action,—my last effort, through the solicitor, was to warn Mr Norton that I was already in debt to my banker, and could pay no other creditor. I received for answer merely that he "declined all discussion on the subject." I then made up my mind to bear what must be borne, and went into court (as I imagined), merely to answer a few formal questions, the pain of which consisted in being obliged to prove, thus publicly, that my husband had cheated me. I expected to have to prove the contract; to prove his signature; to hear Mr Leman (who was also subpœnaed) prove the circumstances under which it was drawn out; to admit the debt; to show that I had no fund but this withheld allowance to pay it with; and then to hear it decided, either that Mr Norton was legally liable, or that he was not. I had the opinion of an able solicitor that he would be held liable. I had the opinion of the distinguished Queen's counsel who accompanied me into court, that he would not;