Eine hübsche Stelle aus Charles Dickens‘ (1812-1870) Roman Oliver Twist (1838; im Volltext hier) zum Recht.

“It was all Mrs. Bumble. She would do it,” urged Mr. Bumble; first looking round, to ascertain that his partner had left the room.

That is no excuse,” returned Mr. Brownlow. “You were present on the occasion of the destruction of these trinkets, and, indeed, are the more guilty of the two, in the eye of the law; for the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction.”

If the law supposes that,” said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, “the law is a ass — a idiot. If that’s the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is, that his eye may be opened by experience — by experience.”

Tja, tja, das für die Wirklichkeit blinde Recht. Vieles hat sich da nicht verändert, ausser die Paarbeziehungen selbst natürlich.