Page:Posthumous papers of the Pickwick Club (Serial Volume 13).pdf/28

392 rible threat of the valorous Dowler, thanthen [sic] he bounced out of the sedan quite as quickly as he had bounced in, and throwing off his slippers into the road, took to his heels and tore round the Crescent, hotly pursued by Dowler and the watchman. He kept ahead; the door was open as he came round the second time, he rushed in, slammed it in Dowler’s face, mounted to his bed-room, locked the door, piled a wash-hand-stand, chest of drawers and table against it, and packed up a few necessaries ready for flight with the first light of morning.

Dowler came up to the outside of the door, avowed, through the key-hole, his stedfaststeadfast [sic] determination of cutting Mr. Wikle’s throat next day; and, after a great confusion of voices in the drawing-room, amidst which that of Mr. Pickwick was distinctly heard endeavouring to make peace, the inmates dispersed to their several bed-chambers, and all was quiet once more.

It is not unlikely that the inquiry may be made, where Mr. Weller, was, all this time? We will state where he was, in the next chapter.

“Mr. Weller,” said Mrs. Craddock, upon the morning of this very eventful day, “here’s a letter to you.”

“Wery odd that,” said Sam, ”I’m afeerd there must be somethin’ the matter, for I don’t recollect any gen’lm’n in my circle of acquaintance as is capable o’ writin’ one.”

“Perhaps something uncommon has taken place,” observed Mrs. Craddock.

“It must be somethin’ wery uncommon indeed, as could perduce a letter out o’ any friend o’ mine,” replied Sam, shaking his head dubiously; “nothin’ less than a nat’ral conwulsion, as the young gen’lm’n observed ven he wos took with fits. It can’t be from the gov’ner,” said Sam, looking at the direction. “He always print, I know, ’cos he learnt writin’ from the large bills in the bookin’ offices. It’s a wery strange thing now, where this here letter can ha’ come from.”

As Sam said this, he did what a great many people do when they are uncertain about the writer of a note,—looked at the seal, and then at the front, and then at the back, and then at the sides, and then at the superscription; and, as a last resource, thought perhaps he might as well look at the inside, and try to find out from that.