-interest, the very instruments which
you, in pure honesty and honour of purpose, and with a laudable desire
to do your utmost for your client, know the temper and worth of so
well, from constantly employing them yourselves. I really believe
that to this circumstance may be attributed the vulgar but very
general notion of your being, as a body, suspicious, distrustful, and
overcautious. Conscious as I am, sir, of the disadvantage of making
such a declaration to you, under such circumstances, I have come here,
because I wish you distinctly to understand, as my friend Mr. Perker
has said, that I am innocent of the falsehood laid to my charge; and
although I am very well aware of the inestimable value of your
assistance, sir, I must beg to add that, unless you sincerely believe
this, I would rather be deprived of the aid of your talents than have
the advantage of them."

The only effect this had upon Serjeant Snubbin was to cause him to ask
rather snappishly,--

"Who is with me in this case?"

"Mr. Phunky, Serjeant Snubbin," replied the attorney.

"Phunky, Phunky," said the Serjeant, "I never heard the name before.
He must be a very young man."

"Yes, he is a very young man," replied the attorney. "He was only
called the other day. Let me see--he has not been at the Bar eight
years yet."

"Ah, I thought not," said the Serjeant, in that sort of pitying tone
in which ordinary folks would speak of a very helpless little child.
"Mr. Mallard, send round to Mr.--Mr.--"

"Phunky's--Holborn Court, Gray's Inn," interposed Perker. (Holborn
Court, by-the-bye, is South Square now.)

"Mr. Phunky, and say I should be glad if he'd step here a moment."

Mr. Mallard departed to execute his commission, and Serjeant Snubbin
relapsed into abstraction until Mr. Phunky himself was introduced.

Although an infant barrister he was a full-grown man. He had a very
nervous manner, and a painful hesitation in his speech; it did not
appear to be a natural defect, but seemed rather the result of
timidity, arising from the consciousness of being "kept down" by want
of means, or interest, or connection, or impudence, as the case might
be. He was overawed by the Serjeant, and profoundly courteous to the
attorney.

"I have not had the pleasure of seeing you before, Mr. Phunky," said
Serjeant Snubbin, with haughty condesce