Among Glibly's acquaintance, or, as he called them, his dear friends, this was a common but a very false conclusion. He had not adopted his customary cant without a motive. The man, who can persuade others that he gabbles in a pleasant but ridiculous and undesigning manner, will lead them to suppose that his actions are equally incongruous, and void of intention. He will pass upon the world for an agreeable harmless fellow, till his malignities are too numerous to escape notice; and then, where he was before welcomed with the hope of a laugh, he will continue to be admitted from the dread of a bite.
A lawyer however feels less of this panic than the rest of mankind: because he can bite again. The cat o' mountain will not attack the tiger.
Glibly returned to the business in hand; and again repeated that he was come at the request of his dear friend, Trevor, to procure an injunction: that should prevent the publication of a pamphlet, which had been written against his friend, Idford.
'And my lord the Bishop of ****,' added Enoch.
'Who is the author of it?' demanded Quisque.
'I am, sir;' answered I.
'For which my friend Trevor is very sorry;' added Glibly.
I instantly retorted a denial. 'I never said any thing of the kind,
Mr. Glibly. But I should be very sorry indeed if it were published.'
'Nay, my dear fellow, according to your own principles, if I do not mistake them, that which ought not to be published ought not to be written.'
The remark was acute: it puzzled me, and I was silent. He proceeded.