Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/515

427 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 427

At this point, Sam Weiler, who had had his eyes fixed hitherto on Mr. Namhy's shining beaver, interfered —

" Are you a Quaker?" said Sam.

"I'll let you know who I am, before I've done with you," replied the indig"nant officer. " I'll teach you manners, my fine fellow, one of these fine mornings."

" Thankee," said Sam. " I'll do the same for you. Take your hat off." With this, Mr. Weiler, in the most dexterous manner, knocked Mr. Namby's hat to the other side of the room with such violence, that he had very nearly caused him to swallow the gold toothpick into the bargain.

" Observe this, Mr. Pickwick," said the disconcerted officer, gasping for breath. " I've been assaulted in the execution of my dooty by your servant in your chamber. I'm in bodily fear. I call you to witness this."

" Don't witness nothin'. Sir," interposed Sam. " Shut your eyes up tight. Sir, I'd pitch him out o' winder, only he couldn't fall far enough, 'cause o' the leads outside."

" Sam," said Mr. Pickwick in an angry voice, as his attendant made various demonstrations of hostilities, *' if you say another word, or offer the slightest interference with this person, I discharge you that instant."

" But, Sir !" said Sam.

" Hold your tongue," interposed Mr. Pickwick; " Take that hat up again."

But this, Sam flatly and positively refused to do ; and, after he had been severely reprimanded by his master, the officer, being in a hurry, con- descended to pick it up himself, venting a great variety of threats against Sam meanwhile, which that gentleman received with perfect composure, merely observing that if Mr. Namby would have the goodness to put his hat on again, he. would knock it into the latter end of next week. Mr. Namby, perhaps thinking that such a process might be productive of inconvenience to himself, declined to offer the temptation, and soon after called up Smouch. Having informed him that the capture was made, and that he was to wait for the prisoner until he should have finished dressing, Namby then swaggered out, and drove away. Smouch requesting Mr. Pickwick, in a surly manner, " to be as alive as he could, for it was a busy time," drew up a chair by the door, and sat there till he had finished dressing. Sara was then dispatched for a hackney coach, and in it the triumvirate proceeded to Coleman Street. It was fortunate the distance was short, for Mr. Smouch, besides possessing BO very enchanting conversational powers, was rendered a decidedly unpleasant companion in a limited space, by the physical weakness to which we have elsewhere adverted.

The coach having turned into a very narrow and dark street, stopped 'before a house with iron bars to all the windows ; the door-posts of which, were graced by the name and title of " Namby, Officer to the Sheriffs of London;" the inner gate having been opened by a gentle- man who might have passed for a neglected twin brother of Mr.

■