Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/145

95 THK PICKWICK CLUB. O^

" 31 y elJest brother was trouMetl with ihut compliiint," saitl Sam " it may he catching — I used to sleep »»;ith him."

round him.
 * Tliis is a curious old house of yours," said the little man, lookiiijf

replied the imperturbable Sam.
 * ♦ If you'd sent word you was a coming, we'd ha' had it repaired ;"

The little man seemed rather baffled by these several repulses, and a short consultation took place between him and the two plump gentle- men. 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 you'll 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 a 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 friend's 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 curice, but yon must see the impropriety of your interfering with my conduct in this case, with such an ad caplandum argument, as the oft'er 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, I'm 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 Barn- well and — "

" Never mind George Barn veil," interrupted Sam, who had remained a wondering listener during this short colloquy ; " every body knows vhat sort of a case his was, tho' it's always been my opinion, mind you, that the young 'ooman deserved scragging a precious sight more than he did. Hows'ever, that's neither here nor there. You want me o except of half a guinea. Werry well, I'm agreeable : I can't say no fairer than that, can I, Sir ? (Mr. Pickwick smiled.) Then the next