“I hope you are, Sir,” replied Dodson; “I trust you may be, Sir. If you are really innocent of what is laid to your charge, you are more unfortunate than I had believed any man could possibly be. What do you say, Mr. Fogg?”

“I say precisely what you say,” replied Fogg, with a smile of incredulity.

“The writ, Sir, which commences the action,” continued Dodson, “was issued regularly. Mr. Fogg, where is the Praecipe book?”

“Here it is,” said Fogg, handing over a square book, with a parchment cover.