Humorous stories; Legal stories; London (England) -- Fiction; Trials (Breach of promise) -- Fiction
'The identical place, my dear Sir,' replied Perker, tapping the lid
of his snuff-box.
Mr. Pickwick stood up in a state of great agitation and took a glance
at the court. There were already a pretty large sprinkling of
spectators in the gallery, and a numerous muster of gentlemen in wigs
in the barristers' seats, who presented, as a body, all that pleasing
and extensive variety of nose and whisker for which the bar of
England is so justly celebrated. Such of the gentlemen as had got a
brief to carry, carried it in as conspicuous a manner as possible,
and occasionally scratched their noses therewith, to impress the fact
more strongly on the observation of the spectators.
One of the happiest descriptions is surely that of the binding of law
books. A law library is the most repulsive and uninteresting thing in
the world. The colour of the leather is unhealthy and disagreeable, and
the necessary shading is secured at the expense of grace. Boz
characterises it as 'that under-done pie crust.'
Other gentlemen, who had no briefs to show, carried under their arms
goodly octavos, with a red label behind, and that
under-done-pie-crust-coloured cover, which is technically known as
"law calf." Others, who had neither briefs nor books, thrust their
hands into their pockets, and looked as wise as they conveniently
could; while others, again, moved here and there with great
restlessness and earnestness of manner, content to awaken thereby the
admiration and astonishment of the uninitiated stranger. The whole,
to the great wonderment of Mr. Pickwick, were divided into little
groups, who were chatting and discussing the news of the day in the
most unfeeling manner possible--just as if no trial at all were
coming on.
A bow from Mr. Phunky, as he entered, and took his seat behind the
row appropriated to the King's Counsel, attracted Mr. Pickwick's
attention; and he had scarcely returned it, when Mr. Serjeant Snubbin
appeared, followed by Mr. Mallard, who half hid the Serjeant behind a
large crimson bag, which he placed on his table, and after shaking
hands with Perker, withdrew. Then there entered two or three more
Serjeants, and among them, one with a fat body and a red face, who
nodded in a friendly manner to Mr. Serjeant Snubbin, and said it was
a fine morning.
'Who's that red-faced man, who said it was a fine morning and nodded
to our counsel?' whispered Mr. Pickwick.
'Mr. Serjeant Buzfuz,' replied Perker. 'He's opposed to us; he leads
on the other side. That gentleman behind him is Mr. Skimpin, his
junior.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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