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Elisha Cuthbert Photos Books: Martin Eden The Pickwick Papers The Sea Wolf |
his little
inquisitive nose, as if they were playing a perpetual game of
peep-bo with that feature. He was dressed all in black, with boots
as shiny as his eyes, a low white neckcloth, and a clean shirt with
a frill to it. A gold watch-chain, and seals, depended from his fob.
He carried his black kid gloves IN his hands, and not ON them;
and as he spoke, thrust his wrists beneath his coat tails, with the
air of a man who was in the habit of propounding some regular posers.
Pretty busy, eh? said the little man.
Oh, wery well, Sir, replied Sam, we shant be bankrupts, and
we shant make our fortns. We eats our biled mutton without
capers, and dont care for horse-radish ven ve can get beef.
Ah, said the little man, youre a wag, aint you?
My eldest brother was troubled with that complaint, said
Sam; it may be catching--I used to sleep with him.
This is a curious old house of yours, said the little man,
looking round him.
If youd sent word you was a-coming, wed ha had it repaired;
replied the imperturbable Sam.
The little man seemed rather baffled by these several repulses,
and a short consultation took place between him and the two
plump gentlemen. At its conclusion, the little man took a pinch
of snuff from an oblong silver box, and was apparently on the
point of renewing the conversation, when one of the plump
gentlemen, who in addition to a benevolent countenance,
possessed a pair of spectacles, and a pair of black gaiters,
interfered--
The fact of the matter is, said the benevolent gentleman, that
my friend here (pointing to the other plump gentleman) will give
you half a guinea, if youll answer one or two--
Now, my dear sir--my dear Sir, said the little man, pray,
allow me--my dear Sir, the very first principle to be observed in
these cases, is this: if you place the matter in the hands of a
professional man, you must in no way interfere in the progress of
the business; you must repose implicit confidence in him. Really,
Mr.-- He turned to the other plump gentleman, and said, I
forget your friends name.
Pickwick, said Mr. Wardle, for it was no other than that jolly
personage.
Ah, Pickwick--really Mr. Pickwick, my dear Sir, excuse me--
I shall be happy to receive any private suggestions of yours, as
AMICUS CURIAE, but you must see the impropriety of your interfering
with my conduct in this case, with such an AD CAPTANDUM argument as the
offer of half a guinea. Really, my dear Sir, really; and the little
man took an argumentative pinch of snuff, and looked very profound.
My only wish, Sir, said Mr. Pickwick, was to bring this very
unpleasant matter to as speedy a close as possible.
Quite right--quite right, said the little man.
With which view, continued Mr. Pickwick, I made use of the
argument which my experience of men has taught me is the most
likely to succeed in any case.
Ay, ay, said the little man, very good, very good, indeed; but
you should have suggested it to me. My dear sir, Im quite certain
you cannot be ignorant of the extent of confidence which must be
placed in professional men. If any authority can be necessary on
such a point, my dear sir, let me refer you to the well-known case
in Barnwell and--
Never mind George Barnwell, interrupted Sam, who had
remained a wondering listener during this short colloquy;
everybody knows what sort of a case his was, tho its always
been my opinion, mind you, that the young ooman deserved
scragging a precious sight more than he did. Howsever, thats
neither here nor there. You want me to accept of half a guinea.
Wery well, Im agreeable: I cant say no fairer than that, can I,
sir? (Mr. Pickwick smiled.) Then the next question is, what the
devil do you want with me, as the man said, wen he see the ghost?
We want to know-- said Mr. Wardle.
Now, my dear sir--my dear sir, interposed the busy little man.
Mr. Wardle shrugged his shoulders, and was silent.
We want to know, said the little man solemnly; and we ask
the question of you, in order that we may not awaken apprehensions
inside--we want to know who youve got in this house at present?
Who there is in the house! said Sam, in whose mind the
inmates were always represented by that particular article of their
costume, which The Pickwick Papers page 59 The Pickwick Papers page 61 |