Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/432

352 352 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

CHAPTER XXXIII.

IS WHOLLY DEVOTED TO A FULL AND FAITHFUL REPORT OF THE MEMORABLE TRIAL OF BARDELL AGAINST PICKWICK.

" I wonder what the foreman of the jury, whoever he'll he, has got for hreakfast," said Mr. Snodgrass, by way of keeping np a conver- sation on the eventful morning of the fourteenth of February.

" Ah 1*' said Perker, " I hope he's got a good one."

" Why so ? " inquired Mr. Pickwick,

" Highly important — very important, my dear Sir/' replied Perker. hold of. Discontented or hungry jurymen, my dear Sir, always find for the plaintiff."
 * ' A good, contented, well-breakfasted juryman, is a capital thing to get

" Bless my heart," said Mr. Pickwick, looking very blank ; " what do they do that for ? '

I suppose. If it's near dinner-time, the foreman takes out his watch when the jury have retired, and says, * Dear me, gentlemen, ten minutes to five, I declare I I dine at five, gentlemen.' « So do 1,' says every body else, except two men who ought to have dined at three, and seem more than half disposed to stand out in consequence. The foreman smiles, and puts up his watch : — * Well, gentlemen, what do we say ? — plaintiff or defendant, gentlemen ? I rather think, so far as I am con- cerned, gentlemen, — I say? I rather think, — but don't let that influence you — I rather think the plaintiff's the man.' Upon this, two or three other men are sure to say that they think so too — as of course they do ; and then they get on very unanimously and comfortably. Ten minutes past nine ! " said the little man, looking at his watch. " Time we were off, my dear Sir ; breach of promise trial — court is generally full in such cases. You had better ring for a coach, my dear Sir, or we shall be rather late."
 * ' Why, I don't know," replied the little man, coolly ; " saves time,

Mr. Pickwick immediately rang the bell, and a coach having been procured, the four Pickwickians and Mr. Perker ensconced themselves therein, and drove to Guildhall ; Sam Weller, Mr. Lowten, and the blue bag, following in a cab.

" Lowten," said Perker, when they reached the outer hall of the court, " put Mr. Pickwick's friends in the students' box ; Mr. Pickwick himself had better sit by me. This way, my dear Sir, — this way ; " and taking Mr. Pickwick by the coat-sleeve, the little man led him to the low seat just beneath the desks of the King's Counsel, which is constructed for the convenience of attorneys, who from that spot can whisper into the ear of the leading counsel in the case, any instructions that may be necessary during the progress of the trial. The occupants of this seat are invisible to the great body of spectators, inasm.uch as they sit on a much lower level than either the barristers or the audience, whose seats are raised above the floor. Of course they have their backs to both, and their faces towards the judge.