Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/264

202 ^9^ POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

.^* I beg your pardon, Mr. Dodson," said Fogg*. j. :tr .,t/'.., ^^'For the grounds of action, Sir," continued Dodsorv, with moral elevation in his air, " you will consult your own conscience and your own feelings. We, Sir, we, are guided entirely by the statement of. our client. That statement, Sir, may be true, or it may be false ; it may be credible, or it may be incredible ; but, if it be true, and if it be credible, I do not hesitate to say. Sir, that our grounds of action, Sir, are strong, and not to be shaken. You may be an unfortunate man. Sir, or you may be a designing one ; but if I were called upon as a juryman upon my oath. Sir, to express an opinion of your conduct. Sir, I do not hesitate to assert that I should have but one opinion about it." Here Dodson drew himself up, with an air of offended virtue, and looked at Fogg, who thrust his hands further in his pockets, and, nodding his head sagely, said, in a tone of the fullest concurrence, " Most certainly."

" Well, Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, with considerable pain depicted in his countenance, " you will permit me to assure you, that I am a most unfortunate man, so far as this case is concerned."

If you are really innocent of what is laid to your charge, you are more unfortunate than I had believed any man could possibly be. What do you say, Mr. Fogg?"
 * ' I hope you are, Sir," replied Dodson ; " I trust you may be, Sir.

" I say precisely what you say," replied Fogg, with a smile of in- credulity.

" The writ. Sir, which commences the action," continued Dodson, ♦< was issued regularly. Mr. Fogg, where is iheprcBclpe book?"

♦< Here it is," said Fogg, handing over a square book, with a parch- ment cover.

" Here is the entry," resumed Dodson. " ' Middlesex, Capias ilf/ar^^a Bardell, widow^ v. Samuel Pickwick, Damages, JB1500. Dodson and Fogg for the plaintiff, Aug. 28 ,1830.' All regular, Sir ; perfectly." And Dodson coughed and looked at Fogg, who said " Perfectly," also. And then they both looked at Mr. Pickwick,

" I am to understand, then," said Mr, Pickwick, '* that it really is your intention to proceed with this action ? "

" Understand, Sir ! — that you certainly may," replied Dodson, with something as near a smile as his importance would allow.

said Mr. Pickwick.
 * ' And that the damages are actually laid at fifteen hundred pounds?"

" To which understanding you may add my assurance, that if we could have prevailed upon our client, they would have been laid at treble the amount. Sir :" replied Dodson.

" I believe Mrs. Bardell specially said, however," observed Fogg, glancing at Dodson, " that she would not compromise for a farthing- less.''

" Unquestionably," replied Dodson, sternly. For the action was only just begun ; and it wouldn't have done to let Mr. Pickwick com- )>romise it then, even if he had been so disposed.

'* As you offer no terms, Sir," said Dodson, displaying a slip of parchment in his right hand, and affectionately pressing a paper copy