 who had been in a state of nervous apprehension during the whole
interview; »Mr. Pickwick, I beg!«
    »I will not be put down, sir,« replied Mr. Pickwick hastily. »Mr. Dodson,
you have addressed some remarks to me.«
    Dodson turned round, bent his head meekly, and smiled.
    »Some remarks to me,« repeated Mr. Pickwick, almost breathless; »and your
partner has tendered me his hand, and you have both assumed a tone of
forgiveness and high-mindedness, which is an extent of impudence that I was not
prepared for, even in you.«
    »What, sir!« exclaimed Dodson.
    »What, sir!« reiterated Fogg.
    »Do you know that I have been the victim of your plots and conspiracies?«
continued Mr. Pickwick. »Do you know that I am the man whom you have been
imprisoning and robbing? Do you know that you were the attorneys for the
plaintiff, in Bardell and Pickwick?«
    »Yes, sir, we do know it,« replied Dodson.
    »Of course we know it, sir,« rejoined Fogg, slapping his pocket - perhaps by
accident.
    »I see that you recollect it with satisfaction,« said Mr. Pickwick,
attempting to call up a sneer for the first time in his life, and failing most
signally in so doing. »Although I have long been anxious to tell you, in plain
terms, what my opinion of you is, I should have let even this opportunity pass,
in deference to my friend Perker's wishes, but for the unwarrantable tone you
have assumed, and your insolent familiarity. I say insolent familiarity, sir,«
said Mr. Pickwick, turning upon Fogg with a fierceness of gesture which caused
that person to retreat towards the door with great expedition.
    »Take care, sir,« said Dodson, who, though he was the biggest man of the
party, had prudently intrenched himself behind Fogg, and was speaking over his
head with a very pale face. »Let him assault you, Mr. Fogg; don't return it on
any account.«
    »No, no, I won't return it,« said Fogg, falling back a little more as he
spoke; to the evident relief of his partner, who by these means was gradually
getting into the outer office.
    »You are,« continued Mr. Pickwick, resuming the thread of his discourse,
»you are a well-matched pair of mean, rascally, pettifogging robbers.«
