“Stay, Mr. Winkle, stay!” said Serjeant Buzfuz, “will your Lordship have the goodness to ask him, what this one instance of suspicious behaviour towards females on the part of this gentleman, who is old enough to be his father, was?”

“You hear what the learned counsel says, Sir,” observed the judge, turning to the miserable and agonised Mr. Winkle. “Describe the occasion to which you refer.”

“My Lord,” said Mr. Winkle, trembling with anxiety, “I⁠—I’d rather not.”

“Perhaps so,” said the little judge; “but you must.”