goodly octavos, with a red label behind, and that
under-done-pie-crust-coloured cover, which is technically known as
"law calf." Others, who had neither briefs nor books, thrust their
hands into their pockets, and looked as wise as they conveniently
could; while others, again, moved here and there with great
restlessness and earnestness of manner, content to awaken thereby the
admiration and astonishment of the uninitiated stranger. The whole,
to the great wonderment of Mr. Pickwick, were divided into little
groups, who were chatting and discussing the news of the day in the
most unfeeling manner possible--just as if no trial at all were
coming on.

A bow from Mr. Phunky, as he entered, and took his seat behind the
row appropriated to the King's Counsel, attracted Mr. Pickwick's
attention; and he had scarcely returned it, when Mr. Serjeant Snubbin
appeared, followed by Mr. Mallard, who half hid the Serjeant behind a
large crimson bag, which he placed on his table, and after shaking
hands with Perker, withdrew. Then there entered two or three more
Serjeants, and among them, one with a fat body and a red face, who
nodded in a friendly manner to Mr. Serjeant Snubbin, and said it was
a fine morning.

'Who's that red-faced man, who said it was a fine morning and nodded
to our counsel?' whispered Mr. Pickwick.

'Mr. Serjeant Buzfuz,' replied Perker. 'He's opposed to us; he leads
on the other side. That gentleman behind him is Mr. Skimpin, his
junior.'

Mr. Pickwick was just on the point of inquiring, with great
abhorrence of the man's cold-blooded villainy, how Mr. Serjeant
Buzfuz, who was counsel for the opposite party, dared to presume to
tell Mr. Serjeant Snubbin, who was counsel for him, that it was a
fine morning,--when he was interrupted by a general rising of the
barristers, and a loud cry of 'Silence!' from the officers of the
court. Looking round, he found that this was caused by the entrance
of the Judge.

On reaching the Court, Perker said, "put Mr. Pickwick's friends in the
students' box. Mr. Pickwick had better sit by me." This useful
provision for the instruction of legal probationers has fallen into
desuetude--no place is reserved for the students now-a-days. Lord
Campbell describes the custom and recalls an incident that occurred when
he was sitting in the students' box