r'aps I doant; but it beant no bi'niss o' thine."

"I didn't mean no offence, but anybody can read the paper, surely; it's a
free country. P'r'aps you're the man himself; I didn't think o' that."

"P'r'aps I be, and p'r'aps I beant."

"And p'r'aps your name is Bumpkin?"

"And p'r'aps it beant, and what then?"

"Why, you've nothing to do with it, that's all; and I don't see why you
should interfere."

"I can't have no quarrelling in my house," said the landlady. "This
gentleman's nothing to do with it; he knows nothing at all about it; so,
if you please, gentlemen, we needn't say any more."

"Oh! I don't want to talk about it," said Ned.

"No more do I," chimed in his companion; "but it's a pity that he should
take up our conversation when he hasn't anything to do with it, and his
name isn't Bumpkin, and he hasn't lost his watch. It's no odds to me; I
don't care, do you, Ned?"

"Not I," said Ned; "let's be off; I don't want no row; anybody mustn't
open his mouth now. Good day, sir."

And the two young men went away.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Mr. Bumpkin determines to maintain a discreet silence about his case at
the Old Bailey--Mr. Prigg confers with him thereon.

And I saw that Mr. Bumpkin's case did not come on. Day by day passed
away, and still it was not in the paper. The reason, however, is simple,
and need not be told to any except those of my readers who are under the
impression that the expeditious administration of justice is of any
consequence. It was obvious to the most simple-minded that the case
could not be taken for a day or two, because there was a block in every
one of the three Courts devoted to the trial of Nisi Prius actions. And
you know as well as anyone, Mr. Bumpkin, that when you get a load of
turnips, or what not, in the market town blocked by innumerable other
turnip carts, you must wait. Patience, therefore, good Bumpkin. Justice
may be slow-footed, but she is sure handed; she may be blind and deaf,
but she is not dumb; as you shall see if you look into one of the
"blocked Courts" where a trial has been going on for the last sixteen
days. A case involving a dispute of no consequence to any person in the
world, and in which there is absolutely nothing except--O rare
phenomenon!--plenty of money. It was interesting only on account of the
bickerings between the learned counsel, and the occasionally friendly
altercations between the Bench and the Bar. But the papers had