THE PICKWICK CLUB. 571
" Do you know that I have been the victim of your plots and conspiracies ? " continued Mr. Pickwick. " Do you know that I am the man whom you have been imprisoning and robbing ? Do you know that you were the attorneys for the plaintiff in Bardeli and Pickwick '"
" Yes, Sir, we do know it," replied Dodson.
" Of course we know it. Sir," rejoined Fogg, ^slapping his pocket — perhaps by accident.
" 1 see that you recollect it with satisfaction," said Mr. Pickwick, attempting to call up a sneer for the first time in his life, and failing most signally in so doing. " Although I have long been anxious to tell you in plain terms what my opinion of you is, I should have let even this opportunity pass in deference to my friend Parker's wishes, but for the unwarrantable tone you have assumed, and your insolent familiarity — I say insolent familiarity. Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, turn- ing upon Fogg with a fierceness of gesture which caused that person to retreat towards the door with great expedition.
" Take care. Sir," said Dodson, who, although he was the biggest man of the party, had prudently intrenched himself behind Fogg, and was speaking over his head with a very pale face. " Let him assault you, Mr. Fogg ; don't return it on any account."
- No, no, I won't return it," said Fogg, falling back a little more
as he spoke ; to the evident relief of his partner, who by these means was gradually getting into the outer office.
" You are," continued Mr. Pickwick, resuming the thread of his discourse, you are a well-matched pair of mean, rascally, pettifogging robbers."
"Well," interposed Perker, "is that all?"
" It is all summed up in that," rejoined Mr. Pickwick; "they are mean, rascally, pettifogging robbers."
" There," said Perker, in a most conciliatory tone, " my dear Sirs, he has said all he has to say : now pray go. Low ten, is that door open ? "
Mr. Lowten, with a distant giggle, replied in the affirmative.
- ' There, there — good morning — good morning — now pray, my dear
Sirs, — Mr. Lowten, the door," cried the little man, pushing Dodson and Fogg, nothing loth, out of the office, " this way, my dear Sirs, — now pray don't prolong this — dear me — INIr. Lowten — the door. Sir, why don't you attend ? "
" If there's law in England, Sir," said Dodson, looking towards Mr. Pickwick, as he put on his hat, " you shall smart for this."
" You are a couple of mean — "
Remember, Sir, you pay dearly for this," said Fogg, shaking his fist.
- ' — Rascally, pettifogging robbers !" continued Mr. Pickwick, taking
not the least notice of the threats that were addressed to him.
- ' Robbers ! " cried IMr. Pickwick, running to the stair-head, as the
two attorneys descended.
"Robbers!" shouted Mr. Pickwick, breaking from Lowten and Perker, and thrusting his head out of the staircase window.
