summonses at Chambers on which they have not thought proper to appeal beyond the Judge. Now, Mr. Bumpkin, after that, I think you ought to be satisfied; but really that is one of the most disparaging things in the profession, the most disparaging, I may say; we find it so difficult to show our clients that we have done enough for them.”
“An’ thee think, sir, as we shall win un?” said Bumpkin.
“Well,” said Mr. Prigg, “I never like to prophesy; but if ever a case looked like winning it’s Bumpkin v. Snooks. And I may tell you this, Mr. Bumpkin, only pray don’t say that I told you.”
“What be thic, sir?” asked the eager client, with his eyes open as widely as ever client’s can be.
“The other side are in a tre-men-dous way!”
“What, funkin’, be um? I said so. That there Snooks be a rank bad un—now, then, we’ll at un like steam.”
“All in good time, Bumpkin,” said the worthy Prigg, affectionately taking his client’s hand. “All in good time. My kind regards to Mrs. Bumpkin. I suppose you return to-night?”
“Ay, sir, I be off by the fust train. Good day t’ ye, sir; good day and thankee.”
Thus comforted and thus grateful did the confiding client take leave of his legal adviser, who immediately took down his costs-book and booked a long conference, including the two hours that Mr. Bumpkin was kept in the “outer office.” This followed immediately after another “long conference with you when you thought we should be in the paper to-morrow from what a certain Mr. O’Rapley had told you, and I thought we should not.”
As he passed through the “outer office” he shook. Horatio by the hand. “Good-bye, sir. I knows what it wur now—bean’t comin’ on.”