Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/398

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Devilish cold," he added pettishly, " standing at that door, wasting one's time with such seedy vagabonds." And, having very vehemently stirred a particularly large £re with a particularly small poker, the clerk led the way to his principal's private room, and announced Mr. Pickwick.

" Ah, my dear Sir," said little Mr. Perker, hustling up from his chair ; "Well, my dear Sir, and what's the news about your matter — eh? Any- thing more about our friends in Freeman's-court ? They've not been sleeping, / know that. Ah, they're very smart fellows — very smart, indeed."

As the little man concluded, he took an emphatic pinch of snuff, as a tribute to the smartness of Messrs. Dodson and Fogg,

" They are great scoundrels," said Mr. Pickwick.

"Aye, aye," said the little man ; "that's a mere matter of opinion, you know, and we won't dispute about terms ; because of course you can't be expected to view these subjects with a professional eye. Well, we've done everything that's necessary. I have retained Serjeant Snub- bin."

" Is he a good man ? " enquired Mr. Pickwick.

" Good man ! " replied Perker ; " bless your heart and soul, my dear Sir, Serjeant Snubbin is at the very top of his profession. Gets treble the business of any man in court — engaged in every] case. You needn't mention it abroad ; but we say — we of the profession — that Ser- jeant Snubbin leads the court by the nose."

The little man took another pinch of snuif as he made this communi- cation, and nodded mysteriously to Mr. Pickwick.

" They have subpoena'd my three friends," said Mr. Pickwick.

" Ah ! of course they would," replied Perker. " Important wit- nesses ; saw you in a delicate situation."

" But she fainted of her own accord," said Mr. Pickwick. " She threw herself into my arms."

" Very likely, my dear Sir," replied Perker ; " very likely and very natural. Nothing more so, my dear Sir — nothing. But who's to prove it ? "

"They have subpoena'd my servant too," said Mr. Pickwick, quitting the other point ; for there Mr. Perker's question had somewhat staggered him.

" Sam ?" said Perker.

Mr. Pickwick repHed in the affirmative.

" Of course, my dear Sir ; of course. I knew they would ; I could have told i/ou that, a month ago. You know, my dear Sir, if you will take the management of your affairs into your own hands after entrust- ing them to your Solicitor, you must also take the consequences." Here Mr. Perker drew himself up with conscious dignity, and brushed some stray grains of snuff from his shirt frill.

" And what do they want him to prove?" asked Mr. Pickwick, after two or three minutes' silence.

" That you sent him up to the Plaintiff's to make some ofier of a compromise, I suppose," replied Perker. " It don't matter much, though I don't think many counsel could get a great deal out of him,"