I was placed at well-known boarding schools till I was old
enough to enter Newnham. I passed as a Third Wrangler at Cambridge
and then joined the firm of Fraser and Warren. As you seem so
interested in my relations, I might inform you that I have not many.
My mother's sister, Mrs. Burstall, the widow of Canon Burstall,
resides at Winchester; my grandfather, Lieutenant Warren, was killed
in the Crimea--or more likely died of neglected wounds owing to the
shamefully misconducted, man-conducted Army Medical Service of those
days. My mother in early days was better known as Miss Kate
Vavasour. She was the intimate friend of a celebrated barrister
who--"
_Judge_, intervening: "We have had enough of this discursive
evidence which really does not bear on the case at all. I must ask
the prosecuting counsel to keep to the point and not waste the time
of the court."
_Prosecuting Counsel_ (who has meantime received three or four
energetic notes from his leader, begging him to remember his
instructions and not to be an ass): "Very good M'Lud." (To Vivie)
"Do you know Mr. David Vavasour Williams, a barrister?"
_Vivie_: "I have heard of him."
_Counsel_: "Have you spoken of him as your cousin?"
_Vivie_: "I may have done. He is closely related to me."
_Counsel_: "I put it to you that _you_ are David Williams, or at any
rate that you have posed as being that person.
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