[John Caldigate by Anthony Trollope]@TWC D-Link book
John Caldigate

CHAPTER XXXVII
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He was not apparently desirous of making all the world know that such a marriage certainly never took place; but that, whether such a marriage had taken place or not, the jury ought not to trust the witnesses.

He relied, not on the strength of his own client, but on the weakness of his client's adversaries.

It might probably be capable of proof that Crinkett and Adamson and the woman had conspired together to get money from John Caldigate; and if so, then their evidence as to the marriage would be much weakened.

And he showed himself not averse to any tricks of trade which might tend to get a verdict.

Could it be proved that John Crinkett had been dishonest in his mining operations?
Had Euphemia Smith allowed her name to be connected with that of any other man in Australia?
What had been her antecedents?
Was it not on the cards that Allan, the minister, had never undergone any ceremony of ordination?
And, if not, might it not be shown that a marriage service performed by him would be no marriage service at all?
Could not the jury be made to think,--or at least some of the jury,--that out there, in that rough lawless wilderness, marriage ceremonies were very little understood?
These were the wiles to which he seemed disposed to trust; whereas Caldigate was anxious that he should instruct some eloquent indignant advocate to declare boldly that no English gentleman could have been guilty of conduct so base, so dastardly, and so cruel! 'You see, Mr.Caldigate,' the lawyer said on one occasion, 'to make the best of it, our own hands are not quite clean.


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