We permit a witness to
testify only to what he actually knows. That is the rule. It is
true there are exceptions to it. In some instances he may
testify as to what he has heard."
"Ah, yes," replied the Count; "you will not permit such evidence
to take away a man's horse, but you will permit it to take away a
woman's reputation! I shall never be able to understand these
delicate refinements of the English law!"
"But, Count," suggested Sir Henry Marquis, "reputation is
precisely that what the neighborhood says about one."
"Pardon, monsieur," returned the Count. "I do not criticize your
customs. They are doubtless excellent in every variety of way.
I deplore only my inability to comprehend them. For example,
monsieur, why should you hold a citizen responsible in all other
cases only for what he does, but in the case of his own character
turn about and try him for what people say he does?
"Thus, monsieur, as I understand it, the men of an English
village could not take away my pig by merely proving that
everybody said it was stolen; but they could brand me as a liar
by merely proving what the villagers said! It seems incredible
that men should put such value on a pig.
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