- 6 -
you repay the money with their own eyes. When everything is settled,
give them a dinner on an early day, getting someone to act the part
of plaintiff for this occasion only, and then and there repay him the
amount said to have been borrowed, in bank notes and gold in presence
of the rest. They will all be able to tell one story, not merely about
the return of the money, but anything else, trivial or otherwise, that
may occur during the dinner, for they will certainly be severely cross-
questioned on the subject.
"Of course it will be necessary to put back the date of the
dinner to within a month or so of the time when the plaintiff says
the money was lent, which we shall get from his declaration. By the
way, while I think of it, it will be as well for one or two of the
witnesses - not more mind - to make an entry in their pocket-books,
such as "Dined at Mr Johnson's, Brown Jones and Robinson there'-
on the date remember when the dinner is supposed to have come off.
Be particular about this. It will account for their being able to fix
the precise day on which the spread took place".
of i Lav\ LR not bRing pro< f nzainst the niachinnt.ons
of the i t mptfr.
The dinner was given as planned; on the cloth being removed,
and the guests lighting their cigars, the sham plaintiff had his notes
and gold temporarily handed to him, and chaffingly pretended to
minutely examine the former, to satisfy himself that none of them
were forged; one or two gentlemen then favoured the company with
a song, and as several of the guests had business to attend to, the
party broke up early. The trial, too, came off in its turn. Witnesses
were duly called, who swore to the sum claimed having been lent in
their presence, and to the defendant having promised to return it in
a few weeks' time. They admitted neither I.O.U. nor other document
passed, but did not think this strange, as they knew the plaintiff
