Life Office Secretary, Mr Prosee, the eminent counsel, three solicitors,

one commissioner of bankrupts, a special pleader from the Temple, a

small-eyed peremptory young gentleman, his pupil, who had written a

lively book about the law of demises, with a vast quantity of marginal

notes and references; and several other eminent and distinguished

personages. From this society, little Mr Perker detached himself, on

his clerk being announced in a whisper; and repairing to the dining-

room, there found Mr Lowten and Job Trotter looking very dim and

shadowy by the light of a kitchen candle, which the gentleman who

condescended to appear in plush shorts and cottons for a quarterly

stipend, had, with a becoming contempt for the clerk and all things

appertaining to 'the office,' placed upon the table.

Now, Lowten,' said little Mr Perker, shutting the door,'what's the

matter? No important letter come in a parcel, is there?'

No, Sir,' replied Lowten. 'This is a messenger from Mr Pickwick, Sir.'

From Pickwick, eh?' said the little man, turning quickly to Job. 'Well,

what is it?'

Dodson and Fogg have taken Mrs. Bardell in execution for her costs,

Sir,' said Job.

No!' exclaimed Perker, putting his hands in his pockets, and reclining

against the sideboard.

Yes,' said Job. 'It seems they got a cognovit out of her, for the amount

of 'em, directly after the trial.'

By Jove!' said Perker, taking both hands out of his pockets, and

striking the knuckles of his right against the palm of his left,

emphatically, 'those are the cleverest scamps I ever had anything to

do with!'

'The sharpest practitioners I ever knew, Sir,' observed Lowten.

'Sharp!' echoed Perker. 'There's no knowing where to have them.'

'Very true, Sir, there is not,' replied Lowten; and then, both master

and man pondered for a few seconds, with animated countenances, as

if they were reflecting upon one of the most beautiful and ingenious

discoveries that the intellect of man had ever made. When they had in

some measure recovered from their trance of admiration, Job Trotter

discharged himself of the rest of his commission. Perker nodded his

head thoughtfully, and pulled out his watch.

The Pickwick Papers