more defined; he rocked his
leg with increased violence; and, throwing himself back in his easy-chair,
coughed dubiously.
    These tokens of the Serjeant's presentiments on the subject, slight as they
were, were not lost on Mr. Pickwick. He settled the spectacles, through which he
had attentively regarded such demonstrations of the barrister's feelings as he
had permitted himself to exhibit, more firmly on his nose; and said with great
energy, and in utter disregard of all Mr. Perker's admonitory winkings and
frownings:
    »My wishing to wait upon you, for such a purpose as this, sir, appears, I
have no doubt, to a gentleman who sees so much of these matters as you must
necessarily do, a very extraordinary circumstance.«
    The Serjeant tried to look gravely at the fire, but the smile came back
again.
    »Gentlemen of your profession, sir,« continued Mr. Pickwick, »see the worst
side of human nature. All its disputes, all its ill-will and bad blood, rise up
before you. You know from your experience of juries (I mean no disparagement to
you, or them) how much depends upon effect: and you are apt to attribute to
others, a desire to use, for purposes of deception and self-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 over-cautious. 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.«
    Long before the close of this address, which we are bound to say was of a
very prosy character for Mr. Pickwick, the Serjeant had relapsed into a state of
abstraction. After some minutes, however, during which he had reassumed his pen,
he appeared to be again aware of the presence of his clients; raising his