was laid, the mine was preparing, the sapper and miner was at work.

Before the bill had been in the parlour window three days - three

days, gentlemen - a being, erect upon two legs, and bearing all the

outward semblance of a man, and not of a monster, knocked at the

door of Mrs. Bardell's house. He inquired within - he took the

lodgings; and on the very next day he entered into possession of them.

This man was Pickwick - Pickwick, the defendant.'

Serjeant Buzfuz, who had proceeded with such volubility that his face

was perfectly crimson, here paused for breath. The silence awoke Mr

Justice Stareleigh, who immediately wrote down something with a pen

without any ink in it, and looked unusually profound, to impress the

jury with the belief that he always thought most deeply with his eyes

shut. Serjeant Buzfuz proceeded -

Of this man Pickwick I will say little; the subject presents but few

attractions; and I, gentlemen, am not the man, nor are you,

gentlemen, the men, to delight in the contemplation of revolting

heartlessness, and of systematic villainy.'

Here Mr Pickwick, who had been writhing in silence for some time,

gave a violent start, as if some vague idea of assaulting Serjeant

Buzfuz, in the august presence of justice and law, suggested itself to

his mind. An admonitory gesture from Perker restrained him, and he

listened to the learned gentleman's continuation with a look of

indignation, which contrasted forcibly with the admiring faces of Mrs.

Cluppins and Mrs. Sanders.

I say systematic villainy, gentlemen,' said Serjeant Buzfuz, looking

through Mr Pickwick, and talking AT him; 'and when I say systematic

villainy, let me tell the defendant Pickwick, if he be in court, as I am

informed he is, that it would have been more decent in him, more

becoming, in better judgment, and in better taste, if he had stopped

away. Let me tell him, gentlemen, that any gestures of dissent or

disapprobation in which he may indulge in this court will not go down

with you; that you will know how to value and how to appreciate

them; and let me tell him further, as my Lord will tell you, gentlemen,

that a counsel, in the discharge of his duty to his client, is neither to

be intimidated nor bullied, nor put down; and that any attempt to do

either the one or the other, or the first, or the last, will recoil on the

head of the attempter, be he plaintiff or be he defendant, be his name

Pickwick, or Noakes, or Stoakes, or Stiles, or Brown, or Thompson.'

This little divergence from the subject in hand, had, of course, the

intended effect of turning all eyes to Mr Pickwick. Serjeant Buzfuz,

having partially recovered from the state of moral elevation into which

he had lashed himself, resumed -

The Pickwick Papers