Olympian
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2008
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Hindi
- Home Country
- India
- Current Location
- India
Hello,
I am confused by the use of 'guinea' vs 'guineas' in the following dialogue from Garrow's Law (Season 1, Episode 2). It is between 4 min and 6:30 min. Once one person says '25 guinea' and another time he says '25 guineas'. I doubt it that it can be a mistake because of the high quality of this BBC TV drama. Are both usages correct? (The context is that Mr Crespigny accuses his coachman that he stole a harness. And Mr Garrow, who is representing the coachman, asks Mr Cresigny questions (cross-examination?) - I read somewhere that the 'ing' form was not present in earlier English, and indeed, I hardly hear any 'ing' forms in this drama! (except perhaps in 'standing wages') ).
Thank you
Mr Garrow (A): When this coachman was engaged, did you make a bargain with him?
Mr Crespigny (B): I did, of course.
A: Good. And I will trouble you to state it.
B: I believe, at first, he asked for 26 guineas. I do not recollect.
A: This will be very important. I'm afraid I must trouble you to tax your recollection.
I believe, in the end, the standing wages agreed were to be 22 guineas,
together with other articles.
B: Yes.
A: Yes! Yes. Now we do make progress.
B: I cannot say.
A: Do you recollect whether he was to have the old wheels and the old harnesses to make up the sum?
B: I never allowed old wheels and old harnesses to any coachman!
A: Well, then, explain to me what those articles were that were to make up the 22 guineas to be 26 guineas?
B: I believe...I believe I paid him 25 guinea. I do not have such a minute recollection.
A: A few moments ago, you recollected it perfectly. Now you'll guess away a man's liberty.
B: 25 guineas.
A: I understood you. The agreement was 22 guineas a year wages. But what other agreements did you make besides?
B: I believe there were...boots and breeches and...a number of...a number of etceteras that the coachmen generally have.
A: Etceteras? Etceteras? An old harness in want of repair, perhaps?
B: Under the pretence of my giving it to him, he took the plated harness out of my stable.
A: Upon this man being discharged, did he, by your desire, deliver you an inventory of the things in the stable?
B: He did.
A: Good. Do you have the inventory?
B: Of course I have not.
A: Ah. What if I was to tell you the old harness is not listed in it.
B: Impossible!
A: And if I have here the inventory that proves it?
[Garrow shows a couple of blank papers to the jury]
Mr Sylvester: My Lord, this is improper.
Judge: Mr Garrow, are you attempting to introduce new evidence?
A: My Lord, I'm merely introducing the face of Mr Crespigny to the jury at this moment. It is my fervent wish that they mark it.
Judge: Mr Garrow, I will not have such tricks in my court.
A: My Lord, I apologise for the creation of such a misleading impression.
But I cannot best Mr Crespigny, who stands before me, in the way of that vice.
I am confused by the use of 'guinea' vs 'guineas' in the following dialogue from Garrow's Law (Season 1, Episode 2). It is between 4 min and 6:30 min. Once one person says '25 guinea' and another time he says '25 guineas'. I doubt it that it can be a mistake because of the high quality of this BBC TV drama. Are both usages correct? (The context is that Mr Crespigny accuses his coachman that he stole a harness. And Mr Garrow, who is representing the coachman, asks Mr Cresigny questions (cross-examination?) - I read somewhere that the 'ing' form was not present in earlier English, and indeed, I hardly hear any 'ing' forms in this drama! (except perhaps in 'standing wages') ).
Thank you
Mr Garrow (A): When this coachman was engaged, did you make a bargain with him?
Mr Crespigny (B): I did, of course.
A: Good. And I will trouble you to state it.
B: I believe, at first, he asked for 26 guineas. I do not recollect.
A: This will be very important. I'm afraid I must trouble you to tax your recollection.
I believe, in the end, the standing wages agreed were to be 22 guineas,
together with other articles.
B: Yes.
A: Yes! Yes. Now we do make progress.
B: I cannot say.
A: Do you recollect whether he was to have the old wheels and the old harnesses to make up the sum?
B: I never allowed old wheels and old harnesses to any coachman!
A: Well, then, explain to me what those articles were that were to make up the 22 guineas to be 26 guineas?
B: I believe...I believe I paid him 25 guinea. I do not have such a minute recollection.
A: A few moments ago, you recollected it perfectly. Now you'll guess away a man's liberty.
B: 25 guineas.
A: I understood you. The agreement was 22 guineas a year wages. But what other agreements did you make besides?
B: I believe there were...boots and breeches and...a number of...a number of etceteras that the coachmen generally have.
A: Etceteras? Etceteras? An old harness in want of repair, perhaps?
B: Under the pretence of my giving it to him, he took the plated harness out of my stable.
A: Upon this man being discharged, did he, by your desire, deliver you an inventory of the things in the stable?
B: He did.
A: Good. Do you have the inventory?
B: Of course I have not.
A: Ah. What if I was to tell you the old harness is not listed in it.
B: Impossible!
A: And if I have here the inventory that proves it?
[Garrow shows a couple of blank papers to the jury]
Mr Sylvester: My Lord, this is improper.
Judge: Mr Garrow, are you attempting to introduce new evidence?
A: My Lord, I'm merely introducing the face of Mr Crespigny to the jury at this moment. It is my fervent wish that they mark it.
Judge: Mr Garrow, I will not have such tricks in my court.
A: My Lord, I apologise for the creation of such a misleading impression.
But I cannot best Mr Crespigny, who stands before me, in the way of that vice.
