you perhaps understood me, Mr. ¬ÝTaylor,‚Äù he gasped. ‚ÄúI‚ÅÝ‚Äîer‚ÅÝ‚Äîmeant to ask if Colonel Cresswell, in signing this paper, meant to sign a contract to sell this wench two hundred acres of land?‚Äù
“He said he did,” reiterated Taylor. “Although I ought to add that he did not think the girl would ever be able to pay. If he had thought she would pay, I don’t think he would have signed the paper.”
Colonel Cresswell went red, then pale, and leaning forward before the whole court, he hurled:
“You damned scoundrel!”
The Judge rapped for order and fidgeted in his seat. There was some confusion and snickering in the courtroom. Finally the Judge plucked up courage: