other than what I am, a woman
much interested in claiming the Parliamentary Franchise for Women;
and I do not see what these questions have to do with my indictment,
which is a charge of arson. You introduce all manner of irrelevant
matter--"

_Counsel_: "You decline to answer my questions?"

(Vivie turns her head away.)

_Judge_, to Counsel: "I do not quite see the bearing of your
enquiries."

_Counsel_: "Why, Me Lud, it is common talk that prisoner is the
well-known barrister, David Vavasour Williams; that in this disguise
and as a pretended man she passed the necessary examinations and was
called to the Bar, and--"

_Judge_: "But what bearing has this on the present charge, which is
one of Arson?"

_Counsel_: "I was endeavouring by my examination to show that the
prisoner has often and successfully passed as a man, and that the
evidence of witnesses who affirmed that they only saw _a young man_
at or near the scene of these incendiary fires, that a young man,
supposed to have set the stables alight, once dashed in and rescued
two horses which had been overlooked, might well have been the
prisoner who is alleged to have committed most of these crimes in
man's apparel--"

_Judge_: "I see." (To Vivie) "Are you David Vavasour Williams?"

_Vivie_: "Obviously not, my Lord. My name is Vivien Warren and my
sex is feminine."

_Judge_, to Counsel: "Well, proceed with your examination--" (But
here the Leader of the prosecution takes up the role and brushes his
junior on one side).

Vivie of course was convicted. The case was plain from the start, as
to her guilt in having organized and carried out the destruction of
several great Racing establishments or buildings connected with
racing. There had been no loss of life, but great damage to
property--perhaps two or three hundred thousand pounds, and a
serious interruption in the racing fixtures of the late summer and
early autumn. The jury took note that on one occasion the prisoner
in the guise of a young man had personally carried out the rescue of
two endangered horses; and added a faintly-worded recommendation to
mercy, seeing that the incentive to the crimes was political
passion.

But the judge put this on one side. In passing sentence he said: "It
is my duty, Vivien Warren, to inflict what in my opinion is a
suitable and adequate sentence for the crime of which you have been
most properly convicted. I must point out to you that whatever may
have been yo