 plaintiff in his arms, with
his hands clasping her waist,« replied Mr. Winkle with natural hesitation, »and
the plaintiff appeared to have fainted away.«
    »Did you hear the defendant say anything?«
    »I heard him call Mrs. Bardell a good creature, and I heard him ask her to
compose herself, for what a situation it was, if any body should come, or words
to that effect.«
    »Now, Mr. Winkle, I have only one more question to ask you, and I beg you to
bear in mind his lordship's caution. Will you undertake to swear that Pickwick,
the defendant, did not say on the occasion in question, My dear Mrs. Bardell,
you're a good creature; compose yourself to this situation, for to this
situation you must come, or words to that effect?«
    »I - I didn't understand him so, certainly,« said Mr. Winkle, astounded at
this ingenious dove-tailing of the few words he had heard. »I was on the
staircase, and couldn't hear distinctly; the impression on my mind is -«
    »The gentlemen of the jury want none of the impressions on your mind, Mr.
Winkle, which I fear would be of little service to honest, straightforward men,«
interposed Mr. Skimpin. »You were on the staircase, and didn't distinctly hear;
but you will not swear that Pickwick did not make use of the expressions I have
quoted? Do I understand that?«
    »No, I will not,« replied Mr. Winkle; and down sat Mr. Skimpin with a
triumphant countenance.
    Mr. Pickwick's case had not gone off in so particularly happy a manner, up
to this point, that it could very well afford to have any additional suspicion
cast upon it. But as it could afford to be placed in a rather better light, if
possible, Mr. Phunky rose for the purpose of getting something important out of
Mr. Winkle in cross-examination. Whether he did get anything important out of
him, will immediately appear.
    »I believe, Mr. Winkle,« said Mr. Phunky, »that Mr. Pickwick is not a young
man?«
    »Oh no,« replied Mr. Winkle, »old enough to be my father.«
    »You have told my learned friend that you have known Mr. Pickwick a long
time. Had you ever any reason to suppose or believe that he was about to be
married?«
    »Oh no;
