This man bears no resemblance to the man I knew. I cannot
do it." And so he resisted all entreaties with that firmness of
purpose for which he was remarkable.
"He was then invited," said Mr. Hawkins, "to a little dinner at
another supporter of the Claimant's, and one somewhat shrewder than
the rest." The Claimant described this party as consisting of a county
magistrate, a money-lender, a lawyer, and a humbug.
This is how the advocate dealt with this little party in his address
to the jury:--
"Gentlemen, can't you imagine the scene? Perkins, the lawyer, says
to Biddulph, 'Come, now, Mr. Biddulph, you know you have had great
experience in cross-examining as a county magistrate at Petty
Sessions; now, cross-examine this man _firmly_, and you'll soon find
he knows more than you think. If he's not the man, he's nobody else,
you may be quite sure of that. But first of all,' says Perkins, 'what
did you know of Roger? That's the first thing; let's start with that.'
"'Oh, not very much,' says Biddulph. 'He stayed at Bath once for a
fortnight, while his mother was there.'
"'Pass Mr. Biddulph the champagne,' says Perkins. (Laughter.)
"'Now,' he adds, 'how did you amuse yourselves, eh?'
"'Well,' says Biddulph, 'we used to smoke together at the
hotel--the--the--White something it was called.'
"'Did you smoke pipes or cigars?'
"'Well, I remember we had some curious pipes.
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