Mr Snodgrass. When all this was done to the magistrate's satisfaction,

the magistrate and Mr Jinks consulted in whispers.

The consultation having lasted about ten minutes, Mr Jinks retired to

his end of the table; and the magistrate, with a preparatory cough,

drew himself up in his chair, and was proceeding to commence his

address, when Mr Pickwick interposed.

I beg your pardon, sir, for interrupting you,' said Mr Pickwick; 'but

before you proceed to express, and act upon, any opinion you may

have formed on the statements which have been made here, I must

claim my right to be heard so far as I am personally concerned.'

Hold your tongue, Sir,' said the magistrate peremptorily.

I must submit to you, Sir - ' said Mr Pickwick.

Hold your tongue, sir,' interposed the magistrate, 'or I shall order an

officer to remove you.'

'You may order your officers to do whatever you please, Sir,' said Mr

Pickwick; 'and I have no doubt, from the specimen I have had of the

subordination preserved amongst them, that whatever you order, they

will execute, Sir; but I shall take the liberty, Sir, of claiming my right

to be heard, until I am removed by force.'

Pickvick and principle!' exclaimed Mr Weller, in a very audible voice.

Sam, be quiet,' said Mr Pickwick.

Dumb as a drum vith a hole in it, Sir,' replied Sam.

Mr Nupkins looked at Mr Pickwick with a gaze of intense

astonishment, at his displaying such unwonted temerity; and was

apparently about to return a very angry reply, when Mr Jinks pulled

him by the sleeve, and whispered something in his ear. To this, the

magistrate returned a half-audible answer, and then the whispering

was renewed. Jinks was evidently remonstrating. At length the

magistrate, gulping down, with a very bad grace, his disinclination to

hear anything more, turned to Mr Pickwick, and said sharply, 'What

do you want to say?'

'First,' said Mr Pickwick, sending a look through his spectacles, under

which even Nupkins quailed, 'first, I wish to know what I and my

friend have been brought here for?'

Must I tell him?' whispered the magistrate to Jinks.

The Pickwick Papers