True,' said Dodson, 'I dare say you have been annoyed in the Fleet;

there are some odd gentry there. Whereabouts were your apartments,

Mr Pickwick?' 'My one room,' replied that much-injured gentleman,

was on the coffee-room flight.'

'Oh, indeed!' said Dodson. 'I believe that is a very pleasant part of the

establishment.'

Very,'replied Mr Pickwick drily.

There was a coolness about all this, which, to a gentleman of an

excitable temperament, had, under the circumstances, rather an

exasperating tendency. Mr Pickwick restrained his wrath by gigantic

efforts; but when Perker wrote a cheque for the whole amount, and

Fogg deposited it in a small pocket-book, with a triumphant smile

playing over his pimply features, which communicated itself likewise

to the stern countenance of Dodson, he felt the blood in his cheeks

tingling with indignation.

'Now, Mr Dodson,' said Fogg, putting up the pocket-book and drawing

on his gloves, 'I am at your service.'

'Very good,' said Dodson, rising; 'I am quite ready.'

I am very happy,' said Fogg, softened by the cheque, 'to have had the

pleasure of making Mr Pickwick's acquaintance. I hope you don't

think quite so ill of us, Mr Pickwick, as when we first had the pleasure

of seeing you.'

I hope not,' said Dodson, with the high tone of calumniated virtue.

Mr Pickwick now knows us better, I trust; whatever your opinion of

gentlemen of our profession may be, I beg to assure you, sir, that I

bear no ill-will or vindictive feeling towards you for the sentiments you

thought proper to express in our office in Freeman's Court, Cornhill,

on the occasion to which my partner has referred.'

'Oh, no, no; nor I,' said Fogg, in a most forgiving manner.

'Our conduct, Sir,' said Dodson, 'will speak for itself, and justify itself,

I hope, upon every occasion. We have been in the profession some

years, Mr Pickwick, and have been honoured with the confidence of

many excellent clients. I wish you good- morning, Sir.'

Good-morning, Mr Pickwick,' said Fogg. So saying, he put his

umbrella under his arm, drew off his right glove, and extended the

hand of reconciliation to that most indignant gentleman; who,

thereupon, thrust his hands beneath his coat tails, and eyed the

attorney with looks of scornful amazement.

The Pickwick Papers