Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/213

157 THE PICKWICK CLUB.

my linen, as I came ulong: — ha ! ha! not a bad idea, lluit. — rjueer things to have it mangled when it's upon one, though— trying process— very."

With these broken words, a young man dressed as a naval officer made his way up to the table, and presented to the astonished Pick- wickians, the identical form and features of Mr. Alfred Jing^le.

The offender had barely time to take Mrs. Leo Hunter's proffered hand, when his eyes encountered the indignant orbs of Mr. Pickwick.

" Hallo! " said Jingle. " Quite forgot — no directions to postilion — give 'em at once — back in a minute."

" The servant, or Mr. Hunter will do it in a moment, Mr. Fitz- Marshall," said Mrs. Leo Hunter.

" No, no— I'll do it— shan't be long — back in no time," replied Jingle. With these words he disappeared among the crowd.

" Will you allow me to ask you, Ma'am," said the excited Mr. Pick- wick, rising from his seat, " who that young man is, and where he resides ? "

" He is a gentleman of fortune, Mr. Pickwick," said Mis. Leo Hunter, " to whom I very much want to introduce you. The Count will be delighted with him.''

" Yes, yes," said Mr. Pickwick, hastily. " His residence — "

" Is at present at the Angel at Bury."

" At Bury?"

" At Bury St. Edmunds, not many miles from here. But dear me, Mr. Pickw ick, you are not going to leave us : surely Mr. Pickwick you cannot think of going so soon."

But long before Mrs. Leo Hunter bad finished speaking, Mr. Pick- wick had plunged through the throng, and reached the garden, whither he was shortly afterwards joined by Mr. Tupman, who had followed his friend closely.


 * It's of no use," said Mr. Tupman. *' He has gone."

" I know it," said Mr. Pickwick, " and I will follow him."

" Follow him. W^herv^?" inquired Mr. Tupman.

" To the Angel at Bury," replied Mr. Pickwick, speaking very quickly. "• How do we know whom he is deceiving there ? He deceived a worthy man once, and we were the innocent cause. He shall not do it again, if I can help it ; I'll expose him. Sam ! Where's my servant ? "

" Here you are. Sir," said Mr. W^eller, emerging from a sequestered spot, where he had been engaged in discussing a bottle of Madeira, which he had abstracted from the break fast -table, an hour or two before. " Here's your servant. Sir. Proud o' the title, as the Living Skellinton said, ven they show'd him."

'* Follow me instantly," said Mr. Pickwick. " Tupman, if I stay at Bury, you can join me there, when I write. Till then, good-bye."

Remonstrances were useless. Mr. Pickwick was roused, and his mind was made up. Mr. Tupman returned to his companions ; and in another hour had drowned all present recollection of Mr. Alfred Jingle, or Mr. Charles Fitz-Murshall, in an exhilarating quadrille and a bottle