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A----,
a very eminent man."
"I have just heard, sir," proceeded Coke, "from the senior officer of
the court, that you are a very eminent man; it may be so, and I am very
sorry for it. I have never heard your name, however, nor a syllable of
your literary reputation, before; but as it seems you are an eminent
man, I take it for granted that it must be in a private and confidential
way among your particular friends. I will fine you, however, another
half-crown for the eminence."
"Well, gentlemen," replied the doctor, "I have heard of many 'wise saws
and modern instances,' but--"
"What do you mean, sir?" said Sir Spigot. "Another insult! You asserted,
sir, already, that Mr. Coke's decision had teeth--"
"But I admitted my error," replied the other.
"And now you mean to insinuate, I suppose, that his worship's saws are
handsaws. You are fined another half-crown, sir, for the handsaw."
"And another," said Coke, "for the _gum arabic_."
The doctor fearing that the fines would increase thick and threefold,
forthwith paid them all, and retired indignantly from the court.


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