第172章

"Well, my dear sir, and what's the news about your matter, eh? Anything more about our friends in Freeman's Court? They've not been sleeping, I 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 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 Snubbin.""Is he a good man?" inquired 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 Serjeant Snubbin leads the court by the nose."The little man took another pinch of snuff as he made this communication, and nodded mysteriously to Mr.Pickwick.

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

"Ah! of course they would," replied Perker."Important witnesses; 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 replied in the affirmative.

"Of course, my dear sir; of course.I knew they would.I could have told you that, a month ago.You know, my dear sir, if you will take the management of your affairs into your own hands after intrusting 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 offer 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.""I don't think they could," said Mr.Pickwick; smiling, despite his vexation, at the idea of Sam's appearance as a witness."What course do we pursue?""We have only one to adopt, my dear sir," replied Perker; "cross-examine the witnesses; trust to Snubbin's eloquence; throw dust in the eyes of the judge; throw ourselves on the jury.""And suppose the verdict is against me?" said Mr.Pickwick.

Mr.Perker smiled, took a very long pinch of snuff, stirred the fire, shrugged his shoulders, and remained expressively silent.

"You mean that in that case I must pay the damages?" said Mr.Pickwick, who had watched this telegraphic answer with considerable sternness.

Perker gave the fire another very unnecessary poke, and said "I am afraid so.""Then I beg to announce to you, my unalterable determination to pay no damages whatever," said Mr.Pickwick, most emphatically."None, Perker.

Not a pound, not a penny, of my money, shall find its way into the pockets of Dodson and Fogg.That is my deliberate and irrevocable determination."Mr.Pickwick gave a heavy blow on the table before him, in confirmation of the irrevocability of his intention.

"Very well, my dear sir, very well," said Perker."You know best, of course.""Of course," replied Mr.Pickwick hastily."Where does Serjeant Snubbin live?""In Lincoln's Inn Old Square," replied Perker.

"I should like to see him," said Mr.Pickwick.

"See Serjeant Snubbin, my dear sir!" rejoined Perker, in utter amazement.

"Pooh, pooh, my dear sir, impossible.See Serjeant Snubbin! Bless you, my dear sir, such a thing was never heard of, without a consultation fee being previously paid, and a consultation fixed.It couldn't be done, my dear sir; it couldn't be done.

Mr.Pickwick, however, had made up his mind not only that it could be done, but that it should be done; and the consequence was, that within ten minutes after he had received the assurance that the thing was impossible, he was conducted by his solicitor into the outer office of the great Serjeant Snubbin himself.

It was an uncarpeted room of tolerable dimensions, with a large writing-table drawn up near the fire: the baize top of which had long since lost all claim to its original hue of green, and had gradually grown grey with dust and age, except where all traces of its natural colour were obliterated by ink-stains.Upon the table were numerous little bundles of papers tied with red tape; and behind it, sat an elderly clerk, whose sleek appearance, and heavy gold watch-chain, presented imposing indications of the extensive and lucrative practice of Mr.Serjeant Snubbin.

"Is the Serjeant in his room, Mr.Mallard?" inquired Perker, offering his box with all imaginable courtesy.

"Yes, he is," was the reply, "but he's very busy.Look here; not an opinion given yet, on any one of these cases; and an expedition fee paid with all of 'em." The clerk smiled as he said this, and inhaled the pinch of snuff with a zest which seemed to be compounded of a fondness for snuff and a relish for fees.

"Something like practice that," said Perker.