Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/394

318 318 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

Snodgrass." As Jackson said this, he presented the parchment before the eyes of Mr. Snodgrass, and slipped the paper and the shilling into his hand.

Mr. Tupman had witnessed this process in silent astonishment, when Jackson, turning sharply upon him, said :

" I think I ain't mistaken when I say your name's Tupman, am I ?"

Mr. Tupman looked at Mr. Pickwick ; but, perceiving no encourage- ment in that gentleman's widely-opened eyes to deny his name, said :

" Yes, my name is Tupman, Sir."

"And that other gentleman's Mr. Winkle, I think," said Jackson.

Mr. Winkle faltered out a reply in the afiSrmative ; and both gen- tlemen were forthwith invested with a slip of paper, and a shilling each, by the dexterous Mr. Jackson.

" Now," said Jackson, " I'm afraid you'll think me rather trouble- some, but I want somebody else, if it ain't inconvenient. I have Samuel Weller's name here, Mr. Pickwick."

" Send my servant here, waiter," said Mr. Pickwick. The waiter retired, considerably astonished, and Mr. Pickwick motioned Jackson to a seat.

There was a painful pause, which was at length broken by the inno- cent defendant.

" I suppose. Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, his indignation rising while he spoke ; '* I suppose, Sir, that it is the intention of your employers to seek to criminate me, upon the testimony of my own friends ? "

Mr. Jackson struck his fore-finger several times against the left side of his nose, to intimate that he was not there to disclose the secrets of the prison-house, and playfully rejoined,


 * ' Not knowin', can't say."

" For what other reason. Sir," pursued Mr. Pickwick, " are these subpoenas served upon them, if not for this ?"

" Very good plant, Mr. Pickwick," replied Jackson, slowly shaking his head. " But it won't do. No harm in trying, but there's little to be got out of me."

Here Mr. Jackson smiled once more upon the company ; and, apply- ing his left thumb to the tip of his nose, worked a visionary coffee-mill with his right hand, thereby performing a very graceful piece of panto- mime (then much in vogue, but now, unhappily, almost obsolete) which was familiarly denominated " taking a grinder."

" No, no, Mr. Pickwick," said Jackson in conclusion ; " Perker's people must guess what we've served these subpoenas for. If they can't, they must wait till the action comes on, and then they'll find out."

Mr. Pickwick bestowed a look of excessive disgust on his unwelcome visitor, and would probably have hurled some tremendous anathema at the heads of Messrs. Dodson and Fogg, had not Sam's entrance at the instant interrupted him.


 * ' Samuel Weller?" said Mr. Jackson, enquiringly.

" Vun o' the truest things as you've said for many a long year,*'repli Sam, in a most composed manner.

" Here's a subpoena for you, Mr, Weller," said .fackson.

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