“Now, my dear sir⁠—my dear Sir,” said the little man, “pray, allow me⁠—my dear Sir, the very first principle to be observed in these cases, is this: if you place the matter in the hands of a professional man, you must in no way interfere in the progress of the business; you must repose implicit confidence in him. Really, Mr. ⁠—” He turned to the other plump gentleman, and said, “I forget your friend’s name.”

“Pickwick,” said Mr. Wardle, for it was no other than that jolly personage.

“Ah, Pickwick⁠—really Mr. Pickwick, my dear Sir, excuse me⁠—I shall be happy to receive any private suggestions of yours, as amicus curiae, but you must see the impropriety of your interfering with my conduct in this case, with such an ad captandum argument as the offer of half a guinea. Really, my dear Sir, really”; and the little man took an argumentative pinch of snuff, and looked very profound.