han pay
the costs of a suit, "and here," he would go on, "is the drollest sequel
you ever heard, &c."

"An odd unusual thing," Mr. Prosee would say. "Plaintiff and Defendant,
both in jail together! I never heard the like." There would be much
laughter at the novel situation. Thus the _cognovit_ would come up and
Mr. Prosee gravely say, "nothing will be done till an Act of Parliament
is passed. The client should be protected by a fresh solicitor." On
which the young author of the treatise on Demises would have something to
say in his best fashion; for the _cognovit_ might be taken to be a sort
of demise. "I doubt Mr. Prosee, if your suggestion would work. As I
take it, sir, etc."

RELEASE FROM THE FLEET.

But the circumstances connected with Mr. Pickwick's release from the
Fleet, show the adroitness and ability of Dodson in a high degree. It
will be recollected that when Job rushed with the news to Perker, that
gentleman and his clerk broke out into raptuous admiration.

'Now, Lowten,' said little Mr. Perker, shutting the door, 'what's the
matter? No important letter come in a parcel, is there?'

'No, sir,' replied Lowten. 'This is a messenger from Mr. Pickwick,
sir.'

'From Pickwick, eh?' said the little man, turning quickly to Job.
'Well; what is it?'

'Dodson and Fogg have taken Mrs. Bardell in execution for her costs,
sir,' said Job.

'No!' exclaimed Perker, putting his hands in his pockets, and
reclining against the sideboard.

'Yes,' said Job. 'It seems they got a cognovit out of her for the
amount of 'em, directly after the trial.'

'By Jove!' said Perker, taking both hands out of his pockets and
striking the knuckles of his right against the palm of his left,
emphatically, 'those are the cleverest scamps I ever had anything to
do with!'

'The sharpest practitioners _I_ ever knew, sir,' observed Lowten.

'Sharp!' echoed Perker. 'There's no knowing where to have them.'

'Very true, sir, there is not,' replied Lowten; and then both master
and man pondered for a few seconds, with animated countenances, as if
they were reflecting upon one of the most beautiful and ingenious
discoveries that the intellect of man had ever made. When they had
in some measure recovered from their trance of admiration, Job
Trotter discharged himself of the rest of his commission. Perker
nodded his head