it out of the
sty--it was a trespass?"

"That's what I says," said Bumpkin; and down went his fist on Mr. Prigg's
table with such vehemence that the solicitor started as though aroused by
a shock of dynamite.

"Let us be calm," said the lawyer, taking some paper from his desk, and
carefully examining the nib of a quill pen, "Let me see, I think you said
your name was Thomas?"

"That's it, sir; and so was my father's afore me."

"Thomas Bumpkin?"

"I beant ashamed on him."

And then Mr. Prigg wrote out a document and read it aloud; and Mr.
Bumpkin agreeing with it, scratched his name at the bottom--very badly
scratched it was, but well enough for Mr. Prigg. This was simply to
retain Mr. Prigg as his solicitor in the cause of _Bumpkin_ v. _Snooks_.

"Quite so, quite so; now let me see; be calm, Mr. Bumpkin, be calm; in
all these matters we must never lose our self-possession. You see, I am
not excited."

"Noa," said Bumpkin; "but then ur dint tak thy pig."

"Quite true, I can appreciate the position, it was no doubt a gross
outrage. Now tell me--this Snooks, as I understand, is the coal-merchant
down the village?"

"That's ur," said Bumpkin.

"I suppose he's a man of some property, eh?"

Mr. Bumpkin looked for a few moments without speaking, and then said:

"He wur allays a close-fisted un, and I should reckon have a goodish bit
o' property."

"Because you know," remarked the solicitor, "it is highly important, when
one wins a case and obtains damages, that the defendant should be in a
position to pay them."

This was the first time that ever the flavour of damages had got into
Bumpkin's mouth; and a very nice flavour it was. To beat Snooks was one
thing, a satisfaction; to make him pay was another, a luxury.

"Yes, sir," he repeated; "I bleeve he ave, I bleeve he ave."

"What makes you think so?"

"Wull, fust and foremust, I knows he lent a party a matter of a hundred
pound, for I witnessed un."

"Then he hasn't got that," said the lawyer.

"Yes ur ave, sir, or how so be as good; for it wur a morgage like, and
since then he've got the house."

Mr. Prigg made a note, and asked where the house was.

"It be widder Jackson's."

"Indeed; very well."

"An then there be the bisness."

"Exactly," said the lawyer, "horses and carts, weighing machines, and so
on?"

"And the house he live in," said Bumpkin, "I know as ow that longs to
him."

"Very well; I think that will be enough to start