You know, my dear Sir, if you WILL take the management of your affairs into your own hands after entrusting them to your solicitor, you must also take the consequences.' Here Mr.Perker drew himself up with conscious dignity, and brushed some stray grains of snuff from his shirt frill.
'And what do they want him to prove ?' asked Mr.Pickwick, after two or three minutes' silence.
'That you sent him up to the plaintiff 's to make some offer of a compromise, I suppose,' replied Perker.

'It don't matter much, though; I don't think many counsel could get a great deal out of HIM.' 'I don't think they could,' said Mr.Pickwick, smiling, despite his vexation, at the idea of Sam's appearance as a witness.

'What course do we pursue ?' 'We have only one to adopt, my dear Sir,' replied Perker; 'cross-examine the witnesses; trust to Snubbin's eloquence; throw dust in the eyes of the judge; throw ourselves on the jury.' 'And suppose the verdict is against me ?' said Mr.Pickwick.
Mr.Perker smiled, took a very long pinch of snuff, stirred the fire, shrugged his shoulders, and remained expressively silent.
'You mean that in that case I must pay the damages ?' said Mr.Pickwick, who had watched this telegraphic answer with considerable sternness.
Perker gave the fire another very unnecessary poke, and said, 'I am afraid so.' 'Then I beg to announce to you my unalterable determination to pay no damages whatever,' said Mr.Pickwick, most emphatically.

'None, Perker.
Not a pound, not a penny of my money, shall find its way into the pockets of Dodson and Fogg.

That is my deliberate and irrevocable determination.' Mr.Pickwick gave a heavy blow on the table before him, in confirmation of the irrevocability of his intention.
'Very well, my dear Sir, very well,' said Perker.