Now, on the other hand, let us record for the honor of that gentleman whose name we do not know, a specimen of his dexterity in making the most and the best of a bad cause. It had been proved in the course of the trial, according to the usual practice in such cases, that the Earl and Countess of Trimmerstone had lived very happily together. There was perhaps some difficulty in finding persons who had seen them much together; but there was evidence enough to prove the point, and there was none to disprove it. The opposing counsel then had nothing left but to persuade the jury that Mr. Tippetson was so much superior to the Earl of Trimmerstone, that the Countess was almost pardonable for making the exchange; or that his lordship was so indifferent to her ladyship, that the loss was a matter of little concern to him. On the latter topic he dwelt with the greatest force; and in illustrating that point, he made use of a most powerful and convincing argument, drawn from the fact that his lordship did not immediately with all his household and establishment pursue her ladyship and bring her back again. This was a most ingenious argument, and for the eloquence and dexterity with which it was used, we are tempted to make a brief extract from the learned gentleman’s address to the jury. After having stated that the plaintiff did not immediately pursue the defendant and the fugitive fair one, he continued: “Now, gentlemen of the jury, can you for a moment imagine that the plaintiff had any regard whatever for his wife, when he did not even take the trouble to pursue her and bring her home again. Here was a virtual manifestation of his indifference to her. If a robber carries off that which is valuable and valued, and the person robbed has time and power to pursue the plunderer, does he not immediately use his efforts to compel the thief to restore his ill-gotten booty? Gentlemen of the jury, if one of you should have your pockets picked, would you not immediately cry out, ‘Stop thief!’ Yet the plaintiff, in the present action, suffered a robber to carry off his greatest treasure without any endeavour on his part to recover it. Here, gentlemen, is proof positive, that the plaintiff cared less for his wife than any one of you would for a snuff-box or pocket-handkerchief.” At this impressive and conclusive sentence, the learned gentleman paused, astonished at his own wit, and waiting for the murmur of approbation, which he thought must necessarily follow such a combination of eloquence and sagacity; but, unfortunately, some of the jury did not see the point of the argument, and they smiled at the learned gentleman’s simplicity; but they saw that he was a young man, and knew no better.