He was between forty and forty-five years of age, and had already overcome the natural diffidence of youth in addressing a learned bench and a crowded court.
'My lud,' said Younglad, 'my learned friend, Mr.Chaffanbrass, who leads for the prisoner, is not yet in court.

Perhaps, my lud, on behalf of my client, I may ask for a few moments' delay.' 'And if Mr.Chaffanbrass has undertaken to lead for the prisoner, why is he not in court ?' said the judge, looking as though he had uttered a poser which must altogether settle Mr.Younglad's business.
But Mr.Younglad had not been sitting, and walking and listening, let alone talking occasionally, in criminal courts, for the last twenty years, to be settled so easily.
'My lud, if your ludship will indulge me with five minutes' delay--we will not ask more than five minutes--your ludship knows, no one better, the very onerous duties--' 'When I was at the bar I took no briefs to which I could not attend,' said the judge.
'I am sure you did not, my lud; and my learned friend, should he ever sit in your ludship's seat, will be able to say as much for himself, when at some future time he may be--; but, my lud, Mr.
Chaffanbrass is now in court.' And as he spoke, Mr.Chaffanbrass, carrying in his hand a huge old blue bag, which, as he entered, he took from his clerk's hands, and bearing on the top of his head a wig that apparently had not been dressed for the last ten years, made his way in among the barristers, caring little on whose toes he trod, whose papers he upset, or whom he elbowed on his road.

Mr.Chaffanbrass was the cock of this dunghill, and well he knew how to make his crowing heard there.
'And now, pray, let us lose no more time,' said the judge.
'My lord, if time has been lost through me, I am very sorry; but if your lordship's horse had fallen down in the street as mine did just now----' 'My horse never falls down in the street, Mr.Chaffanbrass.' 'Some beasts, my lord, can always keep their legs under them, and others can't; and men are pretty much in the same condition.

I hope the former may be the case with your lordship and your lordship's cob for many years.' The judge, knowing of old that nothing could prevent Mr.Chaffanbrass from having the last word, now held his peace, and the trial began.
There are not now too many pages left to us for the completion of our tale; but, nevertheless, we must say a few words about Mr.
Chaffanbrass.

He was one of an order of barristers by no means yet extinct, but of whom it may be said that their peculiarities are somewhat less often seen than they were when Mr.Chaffanbrass was in his prime.