Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/393

317 THE PICKWICK CLUB. ' 817

illegible black stamp. He then drew forth four scraps of paper, of similar dimensions, each containing a printed copy of the strip of parch- ment with blanks for a name ; and having filled up the blanks, put all the five documents in his pocket, and hurried away.

The man in the brown coat with the cabalistic documents in his pocket, was no other than our old acquaintance INIr. Jackson, of the house of Dodson and Fogg, Freeman's Court, Cornhill. Instead of returning to the ofiice from whence he came, however, he bent his steps direct to Sun Court, and walking straight into the George and Vulture, demanded to know whether one Mr. Pickwick was within.

" Call Mr. Pickwick's servant, Tom," said the barmaid of the George and Vulture.

" Don't trouble yourself," said ^Ir. Jackson, " I've come on business. If you'll show me Mr. Pickwick's room, I'll step up myself." " What name. Sir ?" said the waiter. " Jackson," replied the clerk.

The waiter stepped up stairs to announce Mr. Jackson, but Mr. Jack- son saved him the trouble by following close at his heels, and walking into the apartment before he could articulate a syllable.

Mr. Pickwick had that day invited his three friends to dinner ; and they were all seated round the fire, drinking their wine, when Mr. Jack- son presented himself, as above described.

" How de do. Sir," said Mr. Jackson, nodding to Mr. Pickwick. That gentleman bowed, and looked somewhat surprised, for the phy- siognomy of Mr. Jackson dwelt not in his recollection.

" I have called from Dodson and Fogg's," said Mr. Jackson, in an explanatory tone.

Mr. Pickwick roused at the name. " I refer you to my attorney Sir : Mr. Perker, of Gray's Inn," said he. " Waiter, show this gentle- man out."

" Beg your pardon, Mr. Pickwick," said Jackson, deliberately deposit- ing his hat on the floor, and drawing from his pocket the strip of parch- ment. " But personal service, by clerk or agent, in these cases, you know, Mt. Pickwick — eh. Sir ? nothing like caution, Sir, in all legal forms — eh ?"

Here Mr. Jackson cast his eye on the parchment ; and, resting his hands on the table, and looking round with a winning and persuasive smile, said, " Now come ; don't let's have no words about such a little matter as this. Which of you gentlemen's name's Snodgrass ? "

At this inquiry, Mr. Snodgrass gave such a very undisguised and palp- able start, that no further reply was needed.

" Ah I I thought so," said Mr. Jackson, more afifably than before. " I've got a little something to trouble you with. Sir." "Me !" exclaimed Mr. Snodgrass.

" It's only a suhpcena in Bardell and Pickwick on behalf of the plain- tiflF," replied Jackson, singling out one of the slips of paper, and produc- ing a shilling from his waistcoat-pocket. " It'll come on, in the set- tens after Term; fourteenth of Febooary, we expect ; we've marked it a special jury cause, and it's only ten down the paper. That's yours, Mr.