Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/653

549

THE PICKWICK CLUB. 549

the discussion which followed it, were roused by the mere whispering of the talismanic word *' Dinner " in their ears ; and to dinner they went with good digestion waiting on appetite, and health on both, and a waiter upon all three.

In the course of the dinner and the sitting which succeeded it, IIr. Pott descending for a few moments to domestic topics, informed Mr. Pickwick that the air of Eatanswill not agreeing with his lady, she was then engaged in making a tour of different fashionable watering places with a view to the recovery of her wonted health and spirits ; this was a delicate veiling of the fact that INIrs. Pott, acting upon her often repeated threat of separation, had, in virtue of an arrangement negociated by her brother, the Lieutenant, and concluded by Mr. Pott, permanently retired with the faithful body-guard upon one moiety or half-part of the annual income and profits arising from the editorship and sale of the Eatanswill Gazette- While the great Mr. Pott was dwelling upon this and other matters, enlivening the conversation from time to time with various extracts from his own lucubrations, a stern stranger, calling from the window of a stage-coach, outward bound, which halted at the inn to deliver packages, requested to know whether if he stopped short on his journey and remained there for the night he could be furnished with the neces- sary accommodation of a ])ed and bedstead.

" Certainly, Sir," replied the landlord.

" I can, can I ?" enquired the stranger, who seemed habitually sus- picious in look and manner.

" No doubt of it, Sir,'" replied the landlord.

my carpet-bag.''
 * ' Good," said the stranger. *' Coachman, I get down here. Guard,

Bidding the other passengers good night in a rather snappish manner, the stranger alighted. He was a shortish gentleman, with very stiff black hair, cut in the porcupine or blacking-brush style, and standing stiff and straight all over his head ; his aspect was pompous and threatening; his manner was peremptory; his eyes sharp and restless ; and his whole bearing bespoke a feeling of great confidence in himself, and a consciousness of immeasurable superiority over all other people.

This gentleman was shown into the room originally assigned to the patriotic Mr. Pott ; and the waiter remarked, in dumb astonishment at the singular coincidence, that he had no sooner lighted the candles than the gentleman, diving into his hat, drew forth a newspaper, and began to read it with the very same expression of indignant scorn which upon the majestic features of Pott had paralysed his energies an hour before. The man observed too, that whereas Mr. Pott's scorn had been roused by a newspaper headed The Eatanswill Independent, this gentleman's withering contempt was awakened by a newspaper entitled The Eatanswill Gazette.

'' Send the landlord," said the stranger.

" Yes, Sir," rejoined the waiter.

The landlord was sent, and came.

" Are you the landlord?" enquired the gentleman.


 * ' I am. Sir," replied the landlord.

QQ2