,
concerning a professional man, of unquestioned erudition and polished manners -
but those credentials in their highest development he believed were the
possession of other professors of the healing art (jury droop) - whom he had
happened to have in the witness-box the day before yesterday, and from whom he
had elicited in cross-examination that he claimed to be one of the exponents of
this new mode of treatment which appeared to Bar to - eh? - well, Bar thought
so; Bar had thought, and hoped, Physician would tell him so. Without presuming
to decide where doctors disagreed, it did appear to Bar, viewing it as a
question of common sense and not of so-called legal penetration, that this new
system was - might he, in the presence of so great an authority - say, Humbug?
Ah! Fortified by such encouragement, he could venture to say Humbug, and now
Bar's mind was relieved.
    Mr. Tite Barnacle, who, like Dr. Johnson's celebrated acquaintance, had only
one idea in his head, and that was a wrong one, had appeared by this time. This
eminent gentleman and Mr. Merdle, seated diverse ways and with ruminating
aspects, on a yellow ottoman in the light of the fire, holding no verbal
communication with each other, bore a strong general resemblance to the two cows
in the Cuyp picture over against them.
    But, now, Lord Decimus arrived. The Chief Butler, who up to this time had
limited himself to a branch of his usual function by looking at the company as
they entered (and that, with more of defiance than favour), put himself so far
out of his way as to come up-stairs with him and announce him. Lord Decimus
being an overpowering peer, a bashful young member of the Lower House, who was
the last fish but one caught by the Barnacles, and who had been invited on this
occasion to commemorate his capture, shut his eyes when his Lordship came in.
    Lord Decimus nevertheless was glad to see the Member. He was also glad to
see Mr. Merdle, glad to see Bishop, glad to see Bar, glad to see Physician, glad
to see Tite Barnacle, glad to see Chorus, glad to see Ferdinand his private
secretary. Lord Decimus, though one of the greatest of the earth, was not
remarkable for ingratiatory manners, and Ferdinand had coached him up to the
point of noticing all the fellows he might find there, and saying he was glad to
see them. When he had achieved this rush of vivacity and condescension,