396
THE GREEN BAG
ping himself with information sufficient for Quite different is the trial of Darnay. a bill of particulars. Sometimes as in the "Mr. Cruncher had by this time taken case of one of our modern lawyer-novelists, quite a lunch of rust off his fingers in his he seemingly lacks a sense of perspective. following of the evidence. He had now to In either event, the result is a nauseating attend while Mr. Stryver fitted the prison er's case on the jury like a compact suit of blur. clothes, showing how the patriot Barsad But Dickens although a sentimentalist as was a hired spy and traitor, an unblushing already observed, if ever there was one, trafficker in blood and one of the greatest chooses his tone well. He may prefer satire scoundrels upon earth since accursed Judas or denunciation. He is never maudlin. — which he certainly did look rather like. Furthermore, each detail receives attention How the virtuous servant Cly was his friend and partner and was worthy to be; how in proportion to its importance viewed the watchful eyes of those forgers and false from a literary standpoint — no more. One swearers had rested on the prisoner as a of the best bits of satire is reserved for Mr. victim, because some family affairs in France, he being of French extraction, did require Justice Stareleigh who his making those passages across the Chan , "summed up in the old-established and nel — though what those affairs were, a most approved form. He read as much of consideration for others who were near and his notes to the jury as he could decipher dear to him forbade him, even for his life, on so short a notice, and made running com to disclose. How the evidence* that had ments on the evidence as he went along. If been warped and wrested from the young Mrs. Bardell was right, it was perfectly lady whose anguish in giving it they had clear Mr. Pickwick was wrong, and if they witnessed, came to nothing, involving the thought the evidence of Mrs. Cluppins mere little gallantries and politenesses likely worthy of credence they would believe it to pass between any young gentleman and and if they didn't why they wouldn't. If lady so thrown together — with the excep they were satisfied that a breach of promise tion of that reference to George Washing of marriage had been committed, they ton which was altogether too extravagant would find for the plaintiff with such dam and impossible to be regarded in any other ages as they thought proper; and if on the light than as a monstrous joke. How it other hand" it appeared to them that no would be a weakness in the government to promise of marriage had ever been given break down in this attempt to practice for they would find for the defendant with no popularity on the lowest national antipa damages at all." thies and fears, and therefore Mr. AttorneyGeneral had made the most of it, how If any reader doubt whether Justice Stare nevertheless it rested upon nothing save leigh is still with us, let him visit a few of that vile and infamous character of evi the trial terms of our Supreme Court and dence too often disfiguring such cases and of which the state trials of this country are he will there behold one or two of his in full. But there My Lord interposed (with carnations. It has been [said that cross as grave a face as if it had not been true) examination is an exceedingly dangerous saying that he could not sit upon that thing in that it bears quite a startling re bench and suffer those allusions." "Mr. Stryver then called his few wit semblance to pulling a tiger out of his den. You may get him, but the chances are that nesses and Mr. Cruncher had next to attend while Mr. Attorney-General turned the he will get you. I hope to see the day whole suit of clothes Mr. Stryver had fitted when every law school will have in its cur on the jury inside out, showing how Barsad riculum a course on how to conduct a case and Cly were even a hundred times better and if the instructor knows his business, than he had thought them, and the pris oner a hundred times worse. Lastly came he will request the students to pay particu My Lord himself, turning the suit of clothes lar attention to the result of Mr. Phunky's now inside out, now outside in, but on the attempt on Mr. Winkle which illustrates the whole decidedly trimming and shaping them result of going far with a too-willing witness. into grave-clothes for the prisoner."
