 in
it, and looked unusually profound, to impress the jury with the belief that he
always thought most deeply with his eyes shut. Serjeant Buzfuz proceeded.
    »Of this man Pickwick I will say little; the subject presents but few
attractions; and I, gentlemen, am not the man, nor are you, gentlemen, the men,
to delight in the contemplation of revolting heartlessness, and of systematic
villany.«
    Here Mr. Pickwick, who had been writhing in silence for some time, gave a
violent start, as if some vague idea of assaulting Serjeant Buzfuz, in the
august presence of justice and law, suggested itself to his mind. An admonitory
gesture from Perker restrained him, and he listened to the learned gentleman's
continuation with a look of indignation, which contrasted forcibly with the
admiring faces of Mrs. Cluppins and Mrs. Sanders.
    »I say systematic villany, gentlemen,« said Serjeant Buzfuz, looking through
Mr. Pickwick, and talking at him; »and when I say systematic villany, let me
tell the defendant Pickwick, if he be in court, as I am informed he is, that it
would have been more decent in him, more becoming, in better judgment, and in
better taste, if he had stopped away. Let me tell him, gentlemen, that any
gestures of dissent or disapprobation in which he may indulge in this court will
not go down with you; that you will know how to value and how to appreciate
them; and let me tell him further, as my lord will tell you, gentlemen, that a
counsel, in the discharge of his duty to his client, is neither to be
intimidated nor bullied, nor put down; and that any attempt to do either the one
or the other, or the first, or the last, will recoil on the head of the
attempter, be he plaintiff or be he defendant, be his name Pickwick, or Noakes,
or Stoakes, or Stiles, or Brown, or Thompson.«
    This little divergence from the subject in hand, had of course, the intended
effect of turning all eyes to Mr. Pickwick. Sergeant Buzfuz, having partially
recovered from the state of moral elevation into which he had lashed himself,
resumed:
    »I shall show you, gentlemen, that for two years Pickwick continued to
reside constantly, and without interruption or intermission, at Mrs. Bardell's
house. I shall show you that Mrs. Bardell, during the whole of that time waited
on him, attended to his comforts, cooked his meals, looked out his linen for
