Who dares apprehend me?' said Mr Tupman.

What do you want here, scoundrels?' said Mr Snodgrass.

Mr Winkle said nothing, but he fixed his eyes on Grummer, and

bestowed a look upon him, which, if he had had any feeling, must

have pierced his brain. As it was, however, it had no visible effect on

him whatever.

When the executive perceived that Mr Pickwick and his friends were

disposed to resist the authority of the law, they very significantly

turned up their coat sleeves, as if knocking them down in the first

instance, and taking them up afterwards, were a mere professional act

which had only to be thought of to be done, as a matter of course.

This demonstration was not lost upon Mr Pickwick. He conferred a few

moments with Mr Tupman apart, and then signified his readiness to

proceed to the mayor's residence, merely begging the parties then and

there assembled, to take notice, that it was his firm intention to resent

this monstrous invasion of his privileges as an Englishman, the

instant he was at liberty; whereat the parties then and there

assembled laughed very heartily, with the single exception of Mr

Grummer, who seemed to consider that any slight cast upon the

divine right of magistrates was a species of blasphemy not to be

tolerated.

But when Mr Pickwick had signified his readiness to bow to the laws

of his country, and just when the waiters, and hostlers, and

chambermaids, and post-boys, who had anticipated a delightful

commotion from his threatened obstinacy, began to turn away,

disappointed and disgusted, a difficulty arose which had not been

foreseen. With every sentiment of veneration for the constituted

authorities, Mr Pickwick resolutely protested against making his

appearance in the public streets, surrounded and guarded by the

officers of justice, like a common criminal. Mr Grummer, in the then

disturbed state of public feeling (for it was half-holiday, and the boys

had not yet gone home), as resolutely protested against walking on the

opposite side of the way, and taking Mr Pickwick's parole that he

would go straight to the magistrate's; and both Mr Pickwick and Mr

Tupman as strenuously objected to the expense of a post-coach,

which was the only respectable conveyance that could be obtained.

The dispute ran high, and the dilemma lasted long; and just as the

executive were on the point of overcoming Mr Pickwick's objection to

walking to the magistrate's, by the trite expedient of carrying him

thither, it was recollected that there stood in the inn yard, an old

sedan-chair, which, having been originally built for a gouty gentleman

with funded property, would hold Mr Pickwick and Mr Tupman, at

least as conveniently as a modern post- chaise. The chair was hired,

and brought into the hall; Mr Pickwick and Mr Tupman squeezed

The Pickwick Papers