Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/329

261 Tin: nCKWICK CLUB.

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who preys upon society, and niak(fs easily-deceived people his dupes, Sir; his absurd, his ibohsh, his wretched dupes, Sir," said the excited Mr. Pickwick.

" Dear me," said Mr. Nupkins, colouring up very red, and altering^ his whole manner directly. " Dear me, Mr. — "

" Pickvick," said Sam.

" Pickwick," said the Magistrate, *' dear me, Mr. Pickwick — pray take a seat — you cannot mean this ? Captain Fitz-Marshall I "

" Don't call him a cap'en," said Sam, " nor Fitz-Marshall neither; he ain't neither one nor t'other. He's a strolling actor, he is, and his name's Jingle ; and if ever (here was a wolf in a mulberry suit, that ere Job Trotter's him."

look of amazement ; " my only business in this town, is to expose the person of whom we now speak."
 * ' It is very true. Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, replying to the magistrate's

And Mr. Pickwick proceeded to pour into the horror-stricken ear of Mr. Nupkins, an abridged account of all Mr. Jingle's atrocities. He related how he had first met him, how he had eloped with Miss Wardle, how he had cheerfully resigned the lady for a pecuniary consideration, how he had entrapped him into a lady's boarding-school at midnight, and how he (Mr. Pickwick) now felt it his duty to expose his assump- tion of his present name and rank.

As the narrative proceeded, all the warm blood in the body of Mr. Nupkins tingled up into the very tips of his ears. He had picked up the captain at a neighbouring race-course. Charmed with his long list of aristocratic acquaintance, his extensive travel, and his fashionable demeanour, Mrs. Nupkins and Miss Nupkins had exhibited Captain Fitz-Marshall, and quoted Captain Fitz-Marshall, and hurled Captain Fitz-Marshall at the devoted heads of their select circle of acquaintance, until their bosom friends, Mrs. Porkenham and the Miss Porkenhams, and Mr. Sidney Porkenham, were ready to burst with jealousy and despair. And now, to hear after all, that he was a needy adventurer, a strolling player, and if not a swindler, something so very like it, that it was hard to tell the difference ! Heavens ! what would the Porkenhams say ! What would be the triumph of Mr. Sidney Porkenham when he found that his addresses had been slighted for such a rival ! How should he meet the eye of old Porkenham at the next Quarter Sessions ! — and what a handle would it be for the opposition magisterial party, if the story got abroad !

" But after all," said Mr. Nupkins, brightening up for a moment, after a long pause ; " after all, this is a mere statement. Captain Fitz- Marshall is a man of very engaging manners, — and, I dare say, has many enemies. What proof have you, of the truth of these represent- ations?"

" Confront me with him," said Mr. Pickwick, " that is all I ask, and all I require. Confront him with me, and ray friends here ; you will want no further proof."

" Why," said Mr. Nupkins, " that might be very easily done, for he will be here to-night, and then there would be no occasion to make

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