g-wig and suit of armour guarding the mace
with a drawn sword and silk stockings--which is perpetually done,
gentlemen, night and day; when he said, 'Pell,' he said, 'no false
delicacy, Pell. You're a man of talent; you can get anybody through
the Insolvent Court, Pell; and your country should be proud of you.'
Those were his very words. 'My lord,' I said, 'you flatter me.'
'Pell,' he said, 'if I do I'm damned.'"

"Did he say that?" inquired Mr. Weller.

"He did," replied Pell.

"Vell, then," said Mr. Weller, "I say Parliament ought to ha' took it
up; and if he'd been a poor man they _would_ ha' done it."

"But, my dear friend," argued Mr. Pell, "it was in confidence."

"In what?" said Mr. Weller.

"In confidence."

"Oh! wery good," replied Mr. Weller, after a little reflection. "If
he damned hisself in confidence, o' course that was another thing."

"Of course it was," said Mr. Pell. "The distinction's obvious, you
will perceive."

"Alters the case entirely," said Mr. Weller. "Go on, sir."

"No, I will not go on, sir," said Mr. Pell, in a low and serious tone.
"You have reminded me, sir, that this conversation was private--private
and confidential, gentlemen. Gentlemen, I am a professional man. It
may be that I am a good deal looked up to in my profession--it may be
that I am not. Most people know. I say nothing. Observations have
already been made in this room injurious to the reputation of my noble
friend. You will excuse me, gentlemen; I was imprudent. I feel that
I have no right to mention this matter without his concurrence. Thank
you, sir; thank you."

Thus delivering himself, Mr. Pell thrust his hands into his pockets,
and, frowning grimly around, rattled three-halfpence with terrible
determination.

We hear also of Mrs. Pell.

Mrs. Pell was a tall figure, a splendid woman, with a noble shape, and
a nose, gentlemen, formed to command, gentlemen, and be majestic. She
was very much attached to me--very much--highly connected, too. Her
mother's brother, gentlemen, failed for eight hundred pounds, as a law
stationer.

So we have, ladies and gentlemen, these three types of this honourable
profession. To my mind they have never been quite placed in their proper
order. Perker has been universally admired and looked up to; Dodson and
Fogg have been universally denounced; Mr. Pell has