arrived at the office just as a clerk was inquiring for him; and who, on seeing him, put into his hands the following startling document, being a _"Rule"_ which had been granted the day before, by the Court of King's Bench:-- "On reading the Affidavit of JONATHAN STEGGARS, the affidavits of James Parkinson and Charles Runnington, and the paper-writing marked A, all thereunto annexed, It is ORDERED that Caleb Quirk, Gentleman, an attorney of this Honorable Court, do, on Wednesday next, in this present term, show cause why he should not forthwith deliver up to Charles Aubrey, Esquire, the deeds and documents specified in the paper-writing thereto annexed, marked A, _and also, why he should not answer the matters contained in the said Affidavits_.[20] Upon the motion of Sir Charles Wolstenholme. "By the Court." "Oh Lord!" exclaimed Mr. Quirk, faintly, and, sinking into his chair, inquired for Mr. Gammon; but, as usual, he had not been at Saffron Hill that day. Giving orders to Mr. Amminadab to have copies taken immediately of the affidavits mentioned in the rule, Mr. Quirk set off for Mr. Gammon's chambers, but missed that gentleman, who he learned, had gone to Westminster. The next day Mr. Gammon called at the office, but Mr. Quirk was absent; on going, however, into the old gentleman's room, Mr. Gammon's eye lit on the above-mentioned "rule," and also on the affidavits upon which it had been granted. Having hurriedly glanced over them, he hastily replaced them on the desk, as he had found them, and repaired to his own room, greatly flustered--resolved to wait for Mr. Quirk's arrival, and appear to be informed by him, for the first time, of the existence of the aforesaid formidable documents. While he was really buried in a revery, with his head resting on one hand and a pen in the other, his countenance miserably pale and harassed, Mr. Quirk burst hastily into his room with the rule and affidavits in his hand. "Oh Lord, Gammon! How are you, Gammon?" he stuttered. "Haven't seen you this age!--Where have you been? How are you, eh?" and he grasped very cordially the cold hand of Mr. Gammon, which did not return the pressure. "I am not very well, Mr. Quirk; but--you seem agitated!--Has anything fresh hap"---- "Fresh?--Ecod, my dear Gammon! Fresh, indeed! Here's a _new_ enemy come into the field!--D----d if I don't feel going mad!--Look, Gammon, look!"--and he placed the rule and affidavits in Mr. Gammon's hands, and sat down beside him. "What!--_Answer the matters in the affidavit?_" quoth Gammon, amazedly.--"Why, what have you been doing, Mr. Quirk? And--who upon earth is--_Jonathan Steggars_?" "Who's Steggars!" echoed Mr. Quirk, stupidly. "Yes, Mr. Quirk--_Steggars_. Who is he?" repeated Gammon, intrepidly.