Mr。Pickwickmadenoreply，but，pushingtheletteracrossthetable，anddesiringMr。Tupmantoreaditaloud，fellbackinhischairwithalookofvacantastonishmentquitealarmingtobehold。
Mr。Tupman，withatremblingvoice，readtheletter，ofwhichthefollowingisacopy：——Freeman’sCourt，Cornhill，August28th，1830。BardellagainstPickwick。Sir，HavingbeeninstructedbyMrs。MarthaBardelltocommenceanactionagainstyouforabreachofpromiseofmarriage，forwhichtheplaintifflaysherdamagesatfifteenhundredpounds，webegtoinformyouthatawrithasbeenissuedagainstyouinthissuitintheCourtofCommonPleas。
andrequesttoknow，byreturnofpost，thenameofyourattorneyinLondon，whowillacceptservicethereof。
Weare，Sir，Yourobedientservants，DodsonandFogg。
Mr。SamuelPickwick。