Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/243

185 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 18.)

seem destined to enter no man's house, without involving him in some degree of trouble ? Does it not, I ask^ bespeak tlie indiscretion, or, worse than that, the blackness of heart — that I should say so ! — of my followers, that, beneath whatever roof they locate, they disturb the peace of mind and happiness of some confiding- female ? Is it not, I say "

Mr. Pickwick would in all probability have gone on for some time, had not the entrance of Sam, with a letter, caused him to break off in his eloquent discourse. He passed his handkerchief across his forehead, took off his spectacles, wiped them, and put them on again ; and his voice had recovered its wonted softness of tone, when he said, —

" What have you there, Sam?"

" Called at the Post-office just now, and found this here letter, as has laid there for two days," repHed Mr. Weller. " It's sealed vith a vufer, and directed in round hand."

" I don't know this hand," said Mr. Pickwick, opening the letter.
 * ' Mercy on us ! what's this ? It must be a jest ; it — it — can't be true."

" What's the matter ? " was the general inquiry.

" Nobody dead, is there ? " said Wardle, alarmed at the horror in Mr. Pickwick's countenance.

Mr. Pickwick made no reply, but, pushing the letter across the table, and desiring Mr. Tupman to read it aloud, fell tack in his chair with a look of vacant astonishment quite alarming to behold.

Mr. Tupman, with a trembling voice, read the letter, of which the following is a copy : —

S'teemau'd Court, Cotu^iff, Jlugudt 28t^j ^1830.

TSarDeff aaain^t Tickwiclc.

Xovitt^ ^eeu titdttucted ^u Ji%i6. JlXatt^ci T^ateff, to coiumeuce an action aqaiudt liou, for a 6reacll of proiiit^e of iiiartta^e, ^ot wAicft t^e pfaiuti|^ faiid fiet ciamaqed at fifteen ^iuii<)re<) pouiiOd, we ije^ to tiiforiit itou tftat a wttt fiaA ^eeii i^Auei) a^aui^it iiou lu tnid duit, iii tfie Goutt o? Coiiiiitoii Wead ; and tecjuedt to Kitow, ^i^ zetuzii of podt, t^e name of uout attcrtteu in .^j>uc)oiij wfto wiff accept detcice thereof.

VVe are, otr,

xlour o6ec)ient detvaiitd,

WoddOii and SI'oqq. Jlxr. oaiMuef Ttcksvick.

There was something so impressive in the mute astonishment with which each man regarded his neighbour, and every man regarded Mr Pickwick, that all seemed afraid to speak. The silence was at length broken by Mr. Tupman.