ich lay that
inestimable jewel, truth. "Really," Mr. Bumpkin, "I expect every hour to
see us in the paper. It's very extraordinary; they have no less than
three Courts sitting, as I daresay you are aware. No less than--let me
see, my mind's so full of business, I have seven cases ready to come on.
Where was I? O, I know; I say there are no less than three Courts, under
the continuous sittings system, and yet we seem to make no progress in
the diminution of the tremendous and overwhelming mass of business that
pours in upon us."

Mr. Bumpkin said "Hem!"

"You see," continued Mr. Prigg, "there's one thing, we shall not last
long when we do come on."

"Shan't ur?"

"You see there's only one witness, besides yourself, on our side."

"And 'eve gone for a soger," said Mr. Bumpkin.

"A soldier!" exclaimed Prigg. "A soldier, my dear Bumpkin. No--no--you
don't say so, really!"

"Ay, sure 'ave ur; and wot the devil I be to do agin that there Snooks,
as 'll lie through a brick wall, I beant able to say. I be pooty nigh
off my chump wot wi' one thing and another."

"Off what, sir?" enquired Mr. Prigg.

"Chump," shouted Bumpkin.

"O, indeed, yes; dear me, you don't say so. Well, now I'm glad I called.
I must see about this. What regiment did you say he'd joined?"

"Hoosors!"

"Ha! dear me, has he, indeed?" said Mr. Prigg, noting it down in his
pocket-book. "What a pity for a young man like that to throw himself
away--such an intelligent young fellow, too, and might have done so well;
dear me!"

"Ha," answered Bumpkin, "there worn't a better feller at plough nor thic
there; and he could mend a barrer or a 'arrer, and turn his 'and to pooty
nigh anything about t' farm."

"And is there any reason that can be assigned for this extraordinary
conduct? Wasn't in debt, I suppose?"

Mr. Bumpkin laughed one of his old big fireside laughs such as he had not
indulged in lately.

"Debt! why they wouldn't trust un a shoe-string. Where the devil wur
such a chap as thic to get money to get into debt wi'?"

"My dear sir, we don't want money to get into debt with; we get into debt
when we have none."

"Do ur, sir. Then if I hadn't 'ad any money I'd like to know 'ow fur
thee'd ha' trusted I."

"Dear me," said Mr. Prigg, "what a very curious way of putting it! But,
however, soldier or no soldier, we must have his evidence. I must see
about it: I must go to the depot. Now, with regard to your case at the
Old Ba