Here Bumptious cast a parting frown at Jorrocks, and banging down his
brief, tucked his gown under his arm, turned on his heel and left the
court, to indulge in a glass of pale sherry and a sandwich, regardless
which way the verdict went, so long as he had given him a good quilting.
The silence that followed had the effect of rousing some of the dozing
justices, who nudging those who had fallen asleep, they all began to
stir themselves, and having laid their heads together, during which
time they settled the dinner-hour for that day, and the meets of the
staghounds for the next fortnight, they began to talk of the matter
before the court.

"I vote for reversing," said Squire Jolthead; "Jorrocks is such a
capital fellow." "I must support Boreem," said Squire Hicks: "he gave me
a turn when I made the mistaken commitment of Gipsy Jack." "What do
you say, Mr. Giles?" inquired Mr. Tomkins. "Oh, anything you like, Mr.
Tomkins." "And you, Mr. Hopper?" who had been asleep all the time. "Oh!
guilty, I should say--three months at the treadmill--privately whipped,
if you like," was the reply. Mr. Petty always voted on whichever
side Bumptious was counsel--the learned serjeant having married his
sister--and four others always followed the chair.

Tomkins then turned round, the magistrates resumed their seats along the
bench, and coming forward he stood before the judge's chair, and taking
off his hat with solemn dignity and precision, laid it down exactly in
the centre of the desk, amid cries from the bailiffs and ushers for
"Silence, while the justices of the peace of our sovereign lord the
king, deliver the judgment of the court."

"The appellant in this case," said Mr. Tomkins, very slowly, "seeks to