Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/218

160 1(50 rO&THUMOUS PAPERS OF

" The twopenny rope, Sir," replied Mr. Weller, *' is just a cheap lodgfin'house, vere the beds is twopence a night/'

" What do they call a bed a rope for ? " said Mr. Pickwick.

" Bless your innocence. Sir, that a*nt it," replied Sara, " Ven the lady and gen'lm'n as keeps the Hot-el, first begun business, they nsed to make the beds on the floor ; but this wouldn't do at no price, 'cos instead o' taking a moderate twopenn'orth o' sleep, the lodgers used to lie there half the day. So now they has two ropes, 'bout six foot apart, and three from the floor, which goes right down the room ; and the beds are made of slips of coarse sacking, stretched across 'em."

« Well," said Mr. Pickwick.

At six o'clock every mornin', they lets go the ropes at one end, and down falls all the lodgers. 'Consequence is, that being thoroughly waked, they get up wery quietly, and walk away ! "
 * ' Well," said Mr. Weller, " the adwantage o' the plan's hobvious!

" Beg your pardon, Sir," said Sam, suddenly breaking off" in his loquacious discourse. " Is this Bury Saint Edmunds ? "


 * ' It is," replied Mr. Pickwick.

The coach rattled through the well paved streets of a handsome little town, of thriving and cleanly appearance, and stopped before a large inn situated in a wide open street, nearly facing the old abbey.

" And this," said Mr. Pickwick, looking up, *^ is the Angel. Wc ali-^ht here, Sam. But some caution is necessary. Order a private room, and do not mention my name. You understand."

gence ; and having dragged Mr. Pickwick's portmanteau from the hind boot, into which it had been hastily thrown when they joined the coach at Eatanswill, Mr. Weller disappeared on his errand. A private room was speedily engaged ; and into it, Mr. Pickwick was ushered without delay.
 * ' Right as a trivet. Sir," replied Mr. Weller, with a wink of intelli-

" Now Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, " the first thing to be done is to" —

" Order dinner. Sir," interposed Mr. Weller. " Its wery late. Sir."

" Ah, so it is," said Mr. Pickwick, looking at his watch. '* You are right, Sam."

" And if I might adwise. Sir," added Mr. Weller, " I'd just have a good night's rest arterwards, and not begin inquiring arter this here deep 'un ' till the mornin'. There's nothin' so refreshin' as sleep. Sir, as the servant-giri saia afore she drank the egg-cup-full o' laudanum."

" I think you are right, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick. " But I must first ascertain that he is in the house, and not likely to go away."

" Leave that to me, Sir," said Sam. " Let me order you a snug little dinner, and make my inquiries below while it's a getting ready; I could worm ev'ry secret out o* the boots's heart, in five minutes."

" Do so," said Mr. Pickwick : and Mr. Weller at once retired.

In half an hour, Mr. Pickwick was seated at a very satisfactory dinner ; and in three-quarters Mr. Weller returned with the intelligence that Mr. Charles Fitz-Marshall had ordered his private room to be retained for him, until further notice. Me was going to spend the evening at

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