He made inquiry, however, about the doctor, and
found that he certainly was a doctor. If a doctor will certify that a lady
is dying, what can any judge do, or any jury? There are certain statements
which, though they are false as hell, must be treated as though they were
true as gospel. The clerk reported when he got back to London, that to his
belief Lady Eustace was enjoying an excellent state of health; but that he
was perfectly certain that she would not appear as a witness at the trial.
The anger felt by many persons as to Lizzie's fraudulent obstinacy was
intense. Mr. Camperdown thought that she ought to be dragged up to London
by cart ropes. The attorneys engaged for the prosecution were almost
beside themselves. They did send down a doctor of their own, but Lizzie
would not see the doctor--would not see the doctor though threats of most
frightful consequences were conveyed to her. She would be exposed, fined
thousands of pounds, committed to jail for contempt of court, and
prosecuted for perjury into the bargain. But she was firm. She wrote one
scrap of a note to the doctor who came from London. "I shall not live to
satisfy their rabid vengeance.
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