Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/566

472 4*72 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

thousand, and sliall stop here till I die, mending shoes. Some gentle- men have talked of bringing it before parliament, and I dare say would have done it, only they hadn't time to come to me, and I hadn't power to go to them ; and they got tired of my long letters, and dropped the business. And this is God's truth, without one word of suppression or exaggeration, as tifty people, both in this place and out of it, very well know."

The cobbler paused to ascertain what effect his story had produced upon Sam ; but finding that he had dropped asleep, knocked the ashes out of his pipe, sighed, put it down, drew the bedclothes over his head, and went to sleep too.

Mr. Pickwick was sitting at breakfast alone next morning, Sam being busily engaged in the cobbler's room, polishing his master's shoes and brushing the black gaiters, when there came a knock at the door, which, before Mr. Pickwick could cry " Come in," was followed by the appear- ance of a head of hair and a cotton- velvet cap, both of which articles of dress he had no difficulty in recognising as the personal property of Mr. Smangle.

" How are you ? " said that worthy, accompanying the inquiry with a score or two of nods ; " I say, do you expect anybody this morning ? Three men — devilish gentlemanly fellows — have been asking after you down stairs, and knocking at every door on the Hall flight ; for which they've been most infernally blown up by the collegians that had the trouble of opening 'em."

"Dear me! how very foolish of them," said Mr. Pickwick, rising. '* Yes, I have no doubt they are some friends whom I rather expected to see yesterday."

"Friends of yours!" exclaimed Smangle, seizing Mr. Pickwick by the hand. " Say no more. Curse me, they're friends of mine from this minute, and friends of Mivins's too. Infernal pleasant gentle- manly dog, Mivins, isn't he .'' " said Smangle, with great feeling.

'^I know so little of the gentleman," said Mr. Pickwick, hesitating, '^' that I "

the shoulder. '' You shall know him better. You'll be delighted with him. That man. Sir," said Smangle, with a solemn countenance, " has comic powers that would do honour to Drury Lane Theatre."
 * ' I know you do," interposed Smangle, clasping Mr. Pickwick by

"Has he indeed.^" said Mr. Pickwick.

"Ah, by Jove he has!" replied Smangle. "Hear him come the four cats in the wheelbarrow — four distinct cats, Sir, I pledge you my honour. Now you know that's infernal clever ; dam'me, you can't help liking a man, when you see these sort of traits about him. He's only one fault — that little failing 1 mentioned to you, you know."

As Mr. Smangle shook his head in a confidential and sympathis- ing manner at this juncture, Mr. Pickwick felt that he was expected to say something, so he said " Ah ! " and looked restlessly at the door.

"Ah!" echoed Mr. Sniangle, with a long-drawn sigh. "He's delightful company, that man is, Sir — I don't know better company anywhere ; but he has that one drawback. H the ghost of his grand-