Mr Sampson Brass Presents His Credentials

Should any passer-by be in any doubt as to the import and significance of the small dark house whose dirty parlour window overlooked the footway through Bevis Marks, a plate above the bell was inscribed with the words 'Brass, Solicitor' to disabuse them of any lingering uncertainty. If there was an action to be taken, if there was a settlement to be made, if there was a claim to be disputed, if there were grounds for an appeal, if there was a ward of court to be contested over, if there was an unclaimed inheritance - in short, if there was any injustice in the world that could be put right for a fee, then Mr Sampson Brass was the man to engage. This legal gentleman lived by the maxim that if there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers - in consequence of which philosophy he kept company with misers, hypocrites, crooks, brigands, landlords, usurers, liars, hucksters, perjurers, speculators, and many others of that tribe.