Horatio hung down his head, and said he was very
sorry Mr. Prigg had heard it, for he only intended it for his own amusement.
“I shall take care,” said Mr. Prigg, “that you have less opportunity for such exercises as I have unfortunately witnessed.” And having thus admonished the repentant youth, Mr. Prigg left him to his reflections. I am glad Mr. Prigg did not return while the pale boy was reflecting.
CHAPTER VIII.
The pleasure of a country drive on a summer evening described as enhanced by a pious mind.
It is only fair to the very able solicitors on both sides in the memorable case of Bumpkin v. Snooks to state that the greatest possible despatch was exercised on all occasions. Scarcely a day passed without something being done, as Prigg expressed it, “to expedite matters.” Month after month may have passed away without any apparent advance; but this in reality was not the case. Many appeals on what seemed trifling matters had been heard; so many indeed that Bumpkin v. Snooks had become a household word with the Court of Appeal, and a bye-word among the innumerable loafers about Judge’s Chambers.
“What! Bumpkin v. Snooks again!” the President would say. “What is it now? It’s a pity the parties to this case can’t agree: it seems a very trifling matter.”
“Not so, my lord, as your lordship will quickly apprehend when the new point is brought before your notice. A question of principle is here which may form a precedent for the guidance of future Judges, as did the famous case of Perryman v. Lister, which went to the House of Lords about prosecuting a man for stealing a
gun. This is about a pig, my lord—a little pig, no doubt, and although there is not much in the pig, there is a good deal outside it.”
And often did Prigg say to Locust: