“I’ll give directions for the commencement of an action for false imprisonment against this Captain Boldwig, directly I get to London,” said Mr. Pickwick, as soon as the carriage turned out of the town.

“We were trespassing, it seems,” said Wardle.

“I don’t care,” said Mr. Pickwick, “I’ll bring the action.”

“No, you won’t,” said Wardle.

“I will, by⁠—” But as there was a humorous expression in Wardle’s face, Mr. Pickwick checked himself, and said, “Why not?”

“Because,” said old Wardle, half-bursting with laughter, “because they might turn on some of us, and say we had taken too much cold punch.”