professionally urged to go to law as she had such a
strong case--there might have been some excuse for this violence to
Dodson and Fogg. But he knew nothing whatever of the matter--knew
nothing of the attornies--and in his blind fury gratuitously assumed that
they had "conspired" to harass him in this way. True, he had overheard
how they had treated poor Ramsey.

This very _malapropos_ visit of Mr. Pickwick to the firm was, as I said,
a mistake and damaged his case. It showed that he was nervous and
anxious, and _insecure_. He took nothing by it. There was in truth much
short-sighted cunning in his ways, which came of his overweening vanity.
But this was only one of several attempts he made to worm out something
to his own advantage.

Another of Mr. Pickwick's foolish manoeuvres was his sending his man to
his old lodgings to his landlady--ostensibly to fetch away his "things,"
when this dialogue passed:

'Tell Mrs. Bardell she may put a bill up, as soon as she likes.'

'Wery good, sir,' replied Mr. Weller; 'anythin' more, sir.'

'Nothing more, Sam.'

Mr. Weller stepped slowly to the door, as if he expected something
more; slowly opened it, slowly stepped out, and had slowly closed it
within a couple of inches, when Mr. Pickwick called out.

'Sam.'

'Sir,' said Mr. Weller, stepping quickly back, and closing the door
behind him.

'I have no objection, Sam, to your endeavouring to ascertain how Mrs.
Bardell herself seems disposed towards me, and whether it is really
probable that this vile and groundless action is to be carried to
extremity. _I say_, _I do not object to your doing this_, _if you
wish it_, _Sam_,' said Mr. Pickwick. Sam gave a short nod of
intelligence and left the room.

Now this was very artful on the part of Mr. Pickwick, but it was a very
shallow sort of artfulness, and it was later to recoil on himself. Sam
of course saw through it at once. It never dawned on this simple-minded
man what use the Plaintiff's solicitors would make of his _demarche_.

When the subpoenas were served he rushed off to Perker:

'They have subpoena'd my servant too,' said Mr. Pickwick.

'Sam?' said Perker.

Mr. Pickwick replied in the affirmative.

'Of course, my dear sir; of course. I knew they would. I could have
told _you_ that a month ago. You know, my dear sir, if you _will_
take the management of your affairs