The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

80 THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, ps rr e reason. In fact, Mr. Frank Curtis had applied his!ing grocer’s, sir,” mildly explained Mr. Bulliwel:. right hand to his nose, and extended it in a fan-like form—or, in other words, he “took a sight” at the I'then, turning again to the opposing creditor, the | learned counsel said, “And Y believe that the In- learned Commissioner, and.worked an imaginary | solvent was attracted by the placards, and applied to coffee-mill at the same time with his Jeft hand. Order being restored, the business prececded. “ And, having been a missionary, ] observe by your schedule, that you turned a Dis-cuting Minister, In- solvent?” said Mr. Commissioner Sneeshs, interro- gatively. «Jwas a brand snatched from the burning, sir,” replied Mr. Sheepshanks ; “and, having sorely wrestled with Satan——” ‘Give me a direct answer, man!” cried the Com- missioner, sharply. ‘Did you leave an institution connected with the Established Church and become a dissenter?” “Heaven so willed it,’ responded the sanctimoni- ous insolvent, in s droning voice: “I hada call—and I obeyed it.” “Who opposes this man?” enquired the Commis- sioner. “ Jeremiah Chubbley !” vociferated the Clerk of the Court. “ Here!” growled a man dressed as a bricklayer. “Now, then, Jeremiah Chubbley—stand up in the witness-box,” continued the clerk. “Come, Mr. Chubbley—make baste,” said Mr. Bulliwell, the barrister, speaking moze civilly and using the honorary prefix of fister, because he had been retained by the individual to whom he applied it. Mr. Chubbley mounted the witness-box ; and while the oath was being administered to hin, both the Commissioners inflicted a long stare on his counten- ance just to satisfy themselves by this physiognomical scrutiny whether he were 4 trust-worthy ,«rson or not ;-—for Commissioners in the Insolvents’ Court are great physiognomists—very great physiegnomists in- deed. “Your name is Jeremiah Chubbley?” said Mr. Bulliwell, rising in a stately manner, and darting a ferocious glance towards Mr. Sheepshanks, as much as to say—" Now, my man, I am going to elicit things against you that will prove you to be the greatest rogue in existence.” “Yes—my name be Chubbley, sir,” answered the opposing creditor. “ But I paid you to tackle that there sneaking-loching chap over there, and not to ke-vestion me.” “My dear sir,” said Mr. Bulliwell, blandly, * this is the way of conducting an opposition where counsel is employed. Yuur name is Jeremiah Chubbley ; and you area master-bricklayer, I believer” «1 told ’ee so a veek ago,” replied the opposing creditor, savagely. “Yes—yes: but you must tell the learned Commis- sioners all over again what you told ime,” gently re- monstrated Mr. Bulliwell, “1 believe you are the proprietor of a chapel in the Tottenham Court Road?” “Yes—I be, sir,” responded Mr. Chubbley. “1 built she~and a stronger, better, or more comfortabler place of washup you would n’t find in all Lundon— Jeastways, barrin’ St. Paul's.” «TWell—and this chapel was to Ict sume three or four months ago, I believe?” continued Mr. Bulliwell. “Yes—it were, sir: and I had bDlackguards up at the grocer’s round the corner——” ‘Had what, man?” demanded the Commissioners simultaneously, and as it were in the same breath. “He means that he put placards up at a neighbour- you in consequence 2 ~ “Tle come round to my house, sir, Jest as me and my missus was a sitting down to dinner,” answered Mr. Chubbley. “It was biled pork and greens we had, I remember; cos says I tomy missus, says —~” * Well—well, Mr. Chubbley,” interrupted the coun- cel: “we will proceed, if you please. The Insolvent came round to you, and enquired about the chapel that was to let?” *Yes—he did: and he axed a many ke-vestions about the orgin and the pulpit, and the westry—and so on.” « And, being satistied with your replies, he agreced to take the chapel?” «Yes—and to pay a ke-varter in adwance, which was eleven pound ten,” answered Mr. Chubbley. “ Well—what took place next ?” inquired one of the Commissioners, growing impatient, while his brother- judge took a nap. “ Please, my lud, he sits down and pitches into the biled pork and greens.” responded the opposing creditor. There was a laugh amongst the audience; bit as the joke did not arise from cither the bench or the bar, the ushers bawled out “Silence!” as loudly as they could. “The Insolvent, I believe, not only omitted to pay the quarter in advance,” said Myr. Bulliwell, “ but succeeded in obtaining from you the loan of forty pounds? ” “Tn hard cash—and that’s what aggerewates me and my missus so agin hii,” replied the opposing creditor. ° *But in what manner did he obtain those forty pounds?” asked Mr. Bulliwell, “Tell the Jearned Commissioners “Vy —one on’em’s asleep—and so it’s no usc n-speaking to he!” exclaimed Mr. Chubbley. There was another laugh, which the clerks and ushers immediately suppressed; and Captain O’Blun- derbuss ran a narrow risk of being ignominicusly bundled ont of the Court for observing in a tune some- what above a whisper, “ Be Jasus! and that’s as thrue as that every rale Irishman loves potheen!” But the best of the business was that the somnolent Cummis- sioner wohe up; and catching the fag end of a laugh accompanied by the loud cries of * Silence!” on the part of the oflicials of the Court, he imincdiately fancied that some person had perpetrated a great breach of de- corum, and exclaimed in a severe tone, “ Whoever 15 the cause of disturbance must be turned out.” Herc- upon there was another laugh; and even Mr, Bulliwell himself was compelled to stoop down and pretend to examine his brief in order to conceal the mobility of his risible muscles. “Come, come—let the business proceed,” said Com- missioner Sueesby, anxious to relieve his brother- functionary frum any farther embarrassment; for the latter learned gentleman was quite bewildered by the renewed hilarity whieh his words had provoked. “Toll the bench how the Insolvent obtained from you the forty pounds, Mr. Chubbley,” exclaimed Mr. Bulliwell. “ Please, sir—my missus has on'y got von eye——” . “Well—and what has that to do with it? ” demanded Mr. Commissioner Sneesby. : “Jest this, my lnd—that that ’ere sneaking feller Gorn GIOOKS (SO)