Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/479

393 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 393

'«* It's wrote on gilt-edged paper," said Sam, as he unfolded it, " and sealed in bronze vax vith the top of a door-key. Now for it." And, with a very grave face, Mr. Weller slowly read as follows :

" A select company of the Bath footmen presents their compliments to Mr. Weller, and requests the pleasure of his company this evening, to a friendly swarry, consisting of a boiled leg of mutton with the usual trimmings. The swarry to be on table at half past nine o'clock punc- tually."

This was inclosed in another note, which ran thus-^

" Mr. John Smauker, the gentleman who had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Weller at the house of their mutual acquaintance, Mr. Bantam, a few days since, begs to inclose Mr. Weller the herewith invitation. If Mr. Weller will call on Mr. John Smauker at nine o'clock, Mr. John Smauker will have the pleasure of introducing Mr. Weller.

(Signed) " John Smauker."

The envelope was directed to blank Weller, Esq., at Mr. Pickwick's; and in a parenthesis, in the left hand corner, were the words " airy bell," as an instruction to the bearer.

" Veil," said Sam, " this is comin' it rayther powerful, this is. I never heard a biled leg o' mutton called a swarry afore. I wonder wot they'd call a roast one."

However, without waiting to debate the point, Sam at once betook himself into the presence of Mr. Pickwick, and requested leave of ab- sence for that evening, which was readily granted. With this permis- sion, and the street-door key, Sam Weller issued forth a little before the appointed time, and strolled leisurely towards Queen Square, which he no sooner gained than he had the satisfaction of beholding Mr. John Smauker leaning his powdered head against a lamp post at a short dis tance off, smoking a cigar through an amber tube.

" How do you do, Mr. Weller ?" said Mr. John Smauker, raising his hat gracefully with one hand, while he gently waved the other in a con- descending manner. '<How do you do. Sir?"

" Why, reasonably conwalessent," replied Sam. " How do you find yourself, my dear feller ?"

" Only so so," said Mr. John Smauker.

" Ah, you've been a workin' too hard," observed Sara. " I was fear- fol you would ; it won't do, you know ; you must not give way to that 'ere uncompromisin' spirit o' your'n."

" It's not so much that, Mr. Weller," replied Mr. John Smauker,
 * as bad wine ; I'm afraid I've been dissipating."

" Oh! that's it, is it ?" said Sam ; " that's a wery bad complaint^ that."

Smauker.
 * ' And yet the temptation, you see, Mr. Weller," observed Mr. John

" Ah, to be sure," said Sam.

" Plunged into the very vortex of society, you know, Mr. Weller,** said Mr. John Smauker with a sigh