“Pray, Mr. Winkle, do not evade the question. Are you, or are you not, a particular friend of the defendant’s?”

“I was just about to say, that⁠—”

“Will you, or will you not, answer my question, Sir?”

“If you don’t answer the question, you’ll be committed, Sir,” interposed the little judge, looking over his notebook.

“Come, Sir,” said Mr. Skimpin, “yes or no, if you please.”

“Yes, I am,” replied Mr. Winkle.