Page:Vivian Grey, Volume 2.djvu/138

 "'Well, that's only two: what were the rest for?'

"'Why, your honour, they was to keep the women quiet.'

"Mr. Justice St. Prose.—'Take care what you're about, witness. I consider it my duty to advise you not to laugh; it is, in my opinion, a contempt of court, and I therefore desire you to restrain yourself.'

"Mr. Shuffleton.—'But you haven't told me why you wanted these other six men?'

"'Why, the women, d 'ye see, Sir, was so very unruly in the kitchen; and so I charged them to keep 'em quiet.'

"'Now, Sir, what do you call keeping the women quiet, pulling the maid's cap off, and—?'

"Mr. Justice St. Prose. (To a person opposite.)—'You'll excuse me. Sir, but I think that those two little gentlemen had better leave the court, till this examination is over.'

"His Lordship 'thought it bis duty' to give