n his judge took the execution of
the law in his own hand, and horsewhipped the party. Thus he involved
himself in several law-suits, that drained him of pretty large sums of
money. He seemed particularly incensed at the least appearance of
oppression; and supported divers poor tenants against the extortion of
their landlords. Nay, he has been known to travel two hundred miles as a
volunteer, to offer his assistance in the cause of a person, who he heard
was by chicanery and oppression wronged of a considerable estate. He
accordingly took her under his protection, relieved her distresses, and
was at a vast expense in bringing the suit to a determination; which
being unfavourable to his client, he resolved to bring an appeal into the
House of Lords, and certainly would have executed his purpose, if the
gentlewoman had not died in the interim."

At this period Ferret interrupted the narrator, by observing that the
said Greaves was a common nuisance, and ought to be prosecuted on the
statute of barratry.

"No, sir," resumed Mr. Clarke, "he cannot be convicted of barratry,
unless he is always at variance with some person or other, a mover of
suits and quarrels, who disturbs the peace under colour of law.
Therefore he is in the indictment styled, Communis malefactor,
calumniator, et seminator litium."

"Pr'ythee, truce with thy definitions," cried Ferret, "and make an end to
thy long-winded story. Thou hast no title to be so tedious, until thou
comest to have a coif in the Court of Common Pleas."

Tom smiled contemptuous, and had just opened his mouth to proceed, when
the company were disturbed by a hideous repetition of groans, that seemed
to issue from the chamber in which the body of the squire was deposited.
The landlady snatched the candle, and ran into the room, followed by the
doctor and the rest; and this accident naturally suspended the narration.
In like manner we shall conclude the chapter, that the reader may have
time to breathe and digest what he has already heard.

CHAPTER FIVE

IN WHICH THIS RECAPITULATION DRAWS TO A CLOSE.

When the landlady entered the room from whence the groaning proceeded,
she found the squire lying on his back, under the dominion of the
nightmare, which rode him so hard that he not only groaned and snorted,
but the sweat ran down his face in streams. The perturbation of his
brain, occasioned by this pressure, and the fright he had lately
undergone, gave rise to a v