Fogg coughed
again, and looked at Ramsey. 'My God!' said Ramsey; 'and here have I
nearly driven myself mad, scraping this money together, and all to no
purpose.' 'None at all,' said Fogg, coolly; 'so you had better go
back and scrape some more together, and bring it here in time.' 'I
can't get it, by God!' said Ramsey, striking the desk with his fist.
'Don't bully me, sir,' said Fogg, getting into a passion on purpose.
'I am not bullying you, sir,' said Ramsey. 'You are,' said Fogg; 'get
out, sir; get out of this office, sir, and come back, sir, when you
know how to behave yourself.' Well, Ramsey tried to speak, but Fogg
wouldn't let him, so he put the money in his pocket and sneaked out.
The door was scarcely shut when old Fogg turned round to me, with a
sweet smile on his face, and drew the declaration out of his coat
pocket. 'Here, Wicks,' said Fogg, 'take a cab and go down to the
Temple as quick as you can and file that. The costs are quite safe,
for he's a steady man with a large family, at a salary of five-and-
twenty shillings a week; and if he gives us a warrant of attorney, as
he must in the end, I know his employers will see it paid, so we may
as well get all we can out of him, Mr. Wicks; it's a Christian act to
do it, Mr. Wicks, for with his large family and small income he'll be
all the better for a good lesson against getting into debt--won't he,
Mr. Wicks, won't he?' and he smiled so good-naturedly as he went away
that it was delightful to see him. 'He is a capital man of business,'
said Wicks, in a tone of the deepest admiration; 'capital, isn't he?'"

Mr. Fogg, we are told, was an elderly, pimply-faced, vegetable diet sort
of man, in a black coat, and dark-mixtured trousers; and Mr. Dodson was a
plump, portly, stern-looking man, with a loud voice. And it was from
these worthies that Mr. Pickwick had received a letter dated the 28th of
August, 1827.

FREEMAN'S COURT, CORNHILL.
_Bardell against Pickwick_.

SIR,--Having been instructed by Mrs. Martha Bardell to commence an
action against you for a breach of promise of marriage, for which the
plaintiff lays her damages at fifteen hundred pounds, we beg to inform
you that a writ has been issued against you in this suit in the Court
of Common Pleas, and request to know, by return of post, the name of
your attorney in London, who will accept service thereof.