第22章

Thepeoplethatattractedhisattentionmost，werethreeorfourmenofshabby-genteelappearance，whotouchedtheirhatstomanyoftheattorneyswhopassed，andseemedtohavesomebusinessthere，thenatureofwhichMr。Pickwickcouldnotdivine。Theywerecurious-lookingfellows。Onewasaslimandratherlamemaninrustyblack，andawhiteneckerchief。anotherwasastoutburlyperson，dressedinthesameapparel，withagreatreddish-blackclothroundhisneck。athird，wasalittleweazendrunken-lookingbody，withapimplyface。Theywereloiteringabout，withtheirhandsbehindthem，andnowandthenwithananxiouscountenancewhisperedsomethingintheearofsomeofthegentlemenwithpapers，astheyhurriedby。Mr。

Pickwickrememberedtohaveveryoftenobservedthemloungingunderthearchwaywhenhehadbeenwalkingpast。andhiscuriositywasquiteexcitedtoknowtowhatbranchoftheprofessionthesedingy-lookingloungerscouldpossiblybelong。

HewasabouttopropoundthequestiontoNamby，whokeptclosebehindhim，suckingalargegoldringonhislittlefinger，whenPerkerbustledup，andobservingthattherewasnotimetolose，ledthewayintotheInn。AsMr。Pickwickfollowed，thelamemansteppeduptohim，andcivillytouchinghishat，heldoutawrittencard，whichMr。Pickwick，notwishingtohurttheman’sfeelingsbyrefusing，courteouslyacceptedanddepositedinhiswaistcoat-pocket。

Now，saidPerker，turningroundbeforeheenteredoneoftheoffices，toseethathiscompanionswereclosebehindhim。Inhere，mydearsir。

Hallo，whatdoyouwant？

Thislastquestionwasaddressedtothelameman，who，unobservedbyMr。Pickwick，madeoneoftheparty。Inreplytoit，thelamemantouchedhishatagain，withallimaginablepoliteness，andmotionedtowardsMr。

Pickwick。

No，no，saidPerkerwithasmile。Wedon’twantyou，mydearfriend，wedon’twantyou。

Ibegyourpardon，sir，saidthelameman。Thegentlemantookmycard。Ihopeyouwillemployme，sir。Thegentlemannoddedtome。I’llbejudgedbythegentlemanhimself。Younoddedtome，sir？

Pooh，pooh，nonsense。Youdidn’tnodtoanybody，Pickwick？Amistake，amistake，saidPerker。

Thegentlemanhandedmehiscard，repliedMr。Pickwick，producingitfromhiswaistcoat-pocket。Iacceptedit，asthegentlemanseemedtowishit——infactIhadsomecuriositytolookatitwhenIshouldbeatleisure。I——

Thelittleattorneyburstintoaloudlaugh，andreturningthecardtothelameman，informinghimitwasallamistake，whisperedtoMr。Pickwickasthemanturnedawayindudgeon，thathewasonlyabail。

Awhat！exclaimedMr。Pickwick。

Abail！repliedPerker。

Abail！

Yes，mydearsir——halfadozenof’emhere。Bailyoutoanyamount，andonlychargehalf-a-crown。Curioustrade，isn’tit？saidPerker，regalinghimselfwithapinchofsnuff。

What！AmItounderstandthatthesemenearnalivelihoodbywaitingabouthere，toperjurethemselvesbeforethejudgesoftheland，attherateofhalf-a-crownacrime！exclaimedMr。Pickwick，quiteaghastatthedisclosure。

Why，Idon’texactlyknowaboutperjury，mydearsir，repliedthelittlegentleman。Harshword，mydearsir，veryharshwordindeed。It’salegalfiction，mydearsir，nothingmore。Sayingwhich，theattorneyshruggedhisshoulders，smiled，tookasecondpinchofsnuff，andledthewayintotheofficeofthejudge’sclerk。

Thiswasaroomofspeciallydirtyappearance，withaverylowceilingandoldpanelledwalls。andsobadlylighted，thatalthoughitwasbroaddayoutside，greattallowcandleswereburningonthedesks。Atoneend，wasadoorleadingtothejudge’sprivateapartment，roundwhichwerecongregatedacrowdofattorneysandmanagingclerks，whowerecalledin，intheorderinwhichtheirrespectiveappointmentsstooduponthefile。Everytimethisdoorwasopenedtoletapartyout，thenextpartymadeaviolentrushtogetin。and，asinadditiontothenumerousdialogueswhichpassedbetweenthegentlemenwhowerewaitingtoseethejudge，avarietyofpersonalsquabblesensuedbetweenthegreaterpartofthosewhohadseenhim，therewasasmuchnoiseascouldwellberaisedinanapartmentofsuchconfineddimensions。

Norweretheconversationsofthesegentlementheonlysoundsthatbrokeupontheear。Standingonaboxbehindawoodenbaratanotherendoftheroom，wasaclerkinspectacles，whowastakingtheaffidavits：largebatchesofwhichwere，fromtimetotime，carriedintotheprivateroombyanotherclerkforthejudge’ssignature。Therewerealargenumberofattorneys’clerkstobesworn，anditbeingamoralimpossibilitytoswearthemallatonce，thestrugglesofthesegentlementoreachtheclerkinspectacles，werelikethoseofacrowdtogetinatthepitdoorofatheatrewhenGraciousMajestyhonoursitwithitspresence。Anotherfunctionary，fromtimetotime，exercisedhislungsincallingoverthenamesofthosewhohadbeensworn，forthepurposeofrestoringtothemtheiraffidavitsaftertheyhadbeensignedbythejudge：whichgaverisetoafewmorescuffles。andallthesethingsgoingonatthesametime，occasionedasmuchbustleasthemostactiveandexcitablepersoncoulddesiretobehold。

Therewereyetanotherclassofpersons——thosewhowerewaitingtoattendsummonsestheiremployershadtakenout，whichitwasoptionaltotheattorneyontheoppositesidetoattendornot——andwhosebusinessitwas，fromtimetotime，tocryouttheoppositeattorney’sname，tomakecertainthathewasnotinattendancewithouttheirknowledge。

Forexample。Leaningagainstthewall，closebesidetheseatMr。Pickwickhadtaken，wasanoffice-ladoffourteen，withatenorvoice。nearhim，acommon-lawclerkwithabassone。

Aclerkhurriedinwithabundleofpapers，andstaredabouthim。

SniggleandBlink，criedthetenor。

PorkinandSnob，growledthebass。

StumpyandDeacon，saidthenew-comer。

Nobodyanswered。thenextmanwhocamein，washailedbythewholethree。

andheinhisturnshoutedforanotherfirm。andthensomebodyelseroaredinaloudvoiceforanother。andsoforth。

Allthistime，themaninspectacleswashardatwork，swearingtheclerks：theoathbeinginvariablyadministered，withoutanyeffortatpunctuation，andusuallyinthefollowingterms：

Takethebookinyourrighthandthisisyournameandhand-writingyouswearthatthecontentsofthisyouraffidavitaretruesohelpyouGodashillingyoumustgetchangeIhaven’tgotit。

Well，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，Isupposetheyaregettingthehabeascorpusready。

Yes，saidSam，andIvishthey’dbringoutthehave-his-carcase。

It’sweryunpleasantkeepin’usvaitin’here。I’dha’gothalfadozenhave-his-carcasesready，pack’dupandall，bythistime。

Whatsortofcumbrousandunmanageablemachine，SamWellerimaginedahabeascorpustobe，doesnotappear。forPerker，atthatmoment，walkedup，andtookMr。Pickwickaway。

Theusualformshavingbeengonethrough，thebodyofSamuelPickwickwassoonafterwardsconfidedtothecustodyofthetipstaff，tobebyhimtakentotheWardenoftheFleetPrison，andtheredetaineduntiltheamountofthedamagesandcostsintheactionofBardellagainstPickwickwasfullypaidandsatisfied。

Andthat，saidMr。Pickwick，laughing，willbeaverylongtime。

Sam，callanotherhackney-coach。Perker，mydearfriend，goodbye。

Ishallgowithyou，andseeyousafethere，saidPerker。

Indeed，repliedMr。Pickwick，IwouldrathergowithoutanyotherattendantthanSam。AssoonasIgetsettled，Iwillwriteandletyouknow，andIshallexpectyouimmediately。Untilthen，goodbye。

AsMr。Pickwicksaidthis，hegotintothecoachwhichhadbythistimearrived：followedbythetipstaff。Samhavingstationedhimselfonthebox，itrolledaway。

Amostextraordinarymanthat！saidPerker，ashestoppedtopullonhisgloves。

Whatabankrupthe’dmake，sir，observedMr。Lowten，whowasstandingnear。Howhewouldbotherthecommissioners！He’dset’ematdefianceiftheytalkedofcommittinghim，sir。

Theattorneydidnotappearverymuchdelightedwithhisclerk’sprofessionalestimateofMr。Pickwick’scharacter，forhewalkedawaywithoutdeigninganyreply。

Thehackney-coachjoltedalongFleetStreet，ashackney-coachesusuallydo。Thehorseswentbetter，thedriversaid，whentheyhadanythingbeforethem(theymusthavegoneatamostextraordinarypacewhentherewasnothing)，andsothevehiclekeptbehindacart。whenthecartstopped，itstopped。

andwhenthecartwentonagain，itdidthesame。Mr。Pickwicksatoppositethetipstaff。andthetipstaffsatwithhishatbetweenhisknees，whistlingatune，andlookingoutofthecoachwindow。

Timeperformswonders。Bythepowerfuloldgentleman’said，evenahackney-coachgetsoverhalfamileofground。Theystoppedatlength，andMr。PickwickalightedatthegateoftheFleet。

Thetipstaff，lookingoverhisshouldertoseethathischargewasfollowingcloseathisheels，precededMr。Pickwickintotheprison。turningtotheleft，aftertheyhadentered，theypassedthroughanopendoorintoalobbyfromwhichaheavygate：oppositetothatbywhichtheyhadentered，andwhichwasguardedbyastoutturnkeywiththekeyinhishand：ledatonceintotheinterioroftheprison。

Heretheystopped，whilethetipstaffdeliveredhispapers。andhereMr。Pickwickwasapprisedthathewouldremain，untilhehadundergonetheceremony，knowntotheinitiatedassittingforyourportrait。

Sittingformyportrait！saidMr。Pickwick。

Havingyourlikenesstaken，sir，repliedthestoutturnkey。We’recapitalhandsatlikenesseshere。Take’eminnotime，andalwaysexact。

Walkin，sir，andmakeyourselfathome。

Mr。Pickwickcompliedwiththeinvitation，andsathimselfdown：whenMr。Weller，whostationedhimselfatthebackofthechair，whisperedthatthesittingwasmerelyanothertermforundergoinganinspectionbythedifferentturnkeys，inorderthattheymightknowprisonersfromvisitors。

Well，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，thenIwishtheartistswouldcome。

Thisisratherapublicplace。

Theyvontbelong，sir，Ides-say，repliedSam。There’saDutchclock，sir。

SoIsee，observedMr。Pickwick。

Andabird-cage，sir，saysSam。Veelsvithinveels，aprisoninaprison。Ain’tit，sir？

AsMr。Wellermadethisphilosophicalremark，Mr。Pickwickwasawarethathissittinghadcommened。Thestoutturnkey，havingbeenrelievedfromthelock，satdown，andlookedathimcarelessly，fromtimetotime，whilealongthinmanwhohadrelievedhim，thrusthishandsbeneathhiscoat-tails，andplantinghimselfopposite，tookagoodlongviewofhim。

Athirdrathersurly-lookinggentleman：whohadapparentlybeendisturbedathistea，forhewasdisposingofthelastremnantofacrustandbutterwhenhecamein：stationedhimselfclosetoMr。Pickwick。and，restinghishandsonhiships，inspectedhimnarrowly。whiletwoothersmixedwiththegroup，andstudiedhisfeatureswithmostintentandthoughtfulfaces。

Mr。Pickwickwincedagooddealundertheoperation，andappearedtositveryuneasilyinhischair。buthemadenoremarktoanybodywhileitwasbeingperformed，noteventoSam，whoreclineduponthebackofthechair，reflecting，partlyonthesituationofhismaster，andpartlyonthegreatsatisfactionitwouldhaveaffordedhimtomakeafierceassaultuponalltheturnkeysthereassembled，oneaftertheother，ifitwerelawfulandpeaceablesotodo。

Atlengththelikenesswascompleted，andMr。Pickwickwasinformed，thathemightnowproceedintotheprison。

WhereamItosleepto-night？inquiredMr。Pickwick。

WhyIdon’trightlyknowaboutto-night，repliedthestoutturnkey。

You’llbechummedonsomebodytomorrow，andthenyou’llbeallsnugandcomfortable。Thefirstnight’sgenerallyratherunsettled，butyou’llbesetallsquaresto-morrow。

Aftersomediscussion，itwasdiscoveredthatoneoftheturnkeyshadabedtolet，whichMr。Pickwickcouldhaveforthatnight。Hegladlyagreedtohireit。

Ifyou’llcomewithme，I’llshowityouatonce，saidtheman。Itain’talarge’un。butit’sanout-and-outertosleepin。Thisway，sir。

Theypassedthroughtheinnergate，anddescendedashortflightofsteps。Thekeywasturnedafterthem。andMr。Pickwickfoundhimself，forthefirsttimeinhislife，withinthewallsofadebtor’sprison。

[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter41[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXLIWHATBEFELLMR。PICKWICKWHENHEGOTINTOTHEFLEET。

WHATPRISONERSHESAWTHERE。ANDHOWHEPASSEDTHENIGHT

MR。TOMROKER，thegentlemanwhohadaccompaniedMr。Pickwickintotheprison，turnedsharproundtotherightwhenhegottothebottomofthelittleflightofsteps，andledtheway，throughanirongatewhichstoodopen，andupanothershortflightofsteps，intoalongnarrowgallery，dirtyandlow，pavedwithstone，andverydimlylightedbyawindowateachremoteend。

This，saidthegentleman，thrustinghishandsintohispockets，andlookingcarelesslyoverhisshouldertoMr。Pickwick，Thishereisthehallflight。

Oh，repliedMr。Pickwick，lookingdownadarkandfilthystaircase，whichappearedtoleadtoarangeofdampandgloomystonevaults，beneaththeground，andthose，Isuppose，arethelittlecellarswheretheprisonerskeeptheirsmallquantitiesofcoals。Unpleasantplacestohavetogodownto。butveryconvenient，Idaresay。

Yes，Ishouldn’twonderiftheywasconvenient，repliedthegentleman，seeingthatafewpeoplelivethere，prettysnug。That’stheFair，thatis。

Myfriend，saidMr。Pickwick，youdon’treallymeantosaythathumanbeingslivedowninthosewretcheddungeons？

Don’tI？repliedMr。Roker，withindignantastonishment。whyshouldn’tI？

Live！Livedownthere！exclaimedMr。Pickwick。

Livedownthere！Yes，anddiedownthere，too，weryoften！repliedMr。Roker。andwhatofthat？Who’sgottosayanythingaginit？Livedownthere！Yes，andawerygoodplaceitistolivein，ain’tit？

AsRokerturnedsomewhatfiercelyuponMr。Pickwickinsayingthis，and，moreovermutteredinanexcitedfashioncertainunpleasantinvocationsconcerninghisowneyes，limbs，andcirculatingfluids，thelattergentlemandeemeditadvisabletopursuethediscoursenofurther。Mr。Rokerthenproceededtomountanotherstaircase，asdirtyasthatwhichledtotheplacewhichhadjustbeenthesubjectofdiscussion，inwhichascenthewascloselyfollowedbyMr。PickwickandSam。

There，saidMr。Roker，pausingforbreathwhentheyreachedanothergalleryofthesamedimensionsastheonebelow，thisisthecoffee-roomflight。theoneabove’sthethird，andtheoneabovethat’sthetop。andtheroomwhereyou’rea-goingtosleepto-nightisthewarden’sroom，andit’sthisway——comeon。Havingsaidallthisinabreath，Mr。Rokermountedanotherflightofstairs，withMr。PickwickandSamWellerfollowingathisheels。

Thesestaircasesreceivedlightfromsundrywindowsplacedatsomelittledistanceabovethefloor，andlookingintoagravelledareaboundedbyahighbrickwall，withironchevaux-de-fviseatthetop。Thisarea，itappearedfromMr。Roker’sstatement，wastheracket-ground。anditfurtherappeared，onthetestimonyofthesamegentleman，thattherewasasmallerareainthatportionoftheprisonwhichwasnearestFarringdonStreet，denominatedandcalledthePaintedGround，fromthefactofitswallshavingoncedisplayedthesemblancesofvariousmen-of-warinfullsail，andotherartisticaleffectsachievedinbygonetimesbysomeimprisoneddraughtsmaninhisleisurehours。

Havingcommunicatedthispieceofinformation，apparentlymoreforthepurposeofdischarginghisbosomofanimportantfact，thanwithanyspecificviewofenlighteningMr。Pickwick，theguide，havingatlengthreachedanothergallery，ledthewayintoasmallpassageattheextremeend：openedadoor：anddisclosedanapartmentofanappearancebynomeansinviting，containingeightornineironbedsteads。

There，saidMr。Roker，holdingthedooropen，andlookingtriumphantlyroundatMr。Pickwick，there’saroom！

Mr。Pickwick’sface，however，betokenedsuchaverytriflingportionofsatisfactionattheappearanceofhislodging，thatMr。RokerlookedforareciprocityoffeelingintothecountenanceofSamuelWeller，who，untilnow，hadobservedadignifiedsilence。

There’saroom，youngman，observedMr。Roker。

Iseeit，repliedSam，withaplacidnodofthehead。

Youwouldn’tthinktofindsucharoomasthisintheFarringdonHotel，wouldyou？saidMr。Roker，withacomplacentsmile。

TothisMr。Wellerrepliedwithaneasyandunstudiedclosingofoneeye。whichmightbeconsideredtomean，eitherthathewouldhavethoughtit，orthathewouldnothavethoughtit，orthathehadneverthoughtanythingatallaboutit：astheobserver’simaginationsuggested。Havingexecutedthisfeat，andre-openedhiseye，Mr。WellerproceededtoinquirewhichwastheindividualbedsteadthatMr。Rokerhadsoflatteringlydescribedasanout-an-outertosleepin。

That’sit，repliedMr。Roker，pointingtoaveryrustyoneinacorner。

Itwouldmakeanyonegotosleep，thatbedsteadwould，whethertheywantedtoornot。

Ishouldthink，saidSam，eyeingthepieceoffurnitureinquestionwithalookofexcessivedisgust，Ishouldthinkpoppieswasnothingtoit。

Nothingatall，saidMr。Roker。

AndIs’pose，saidSam，withasidelongglanceathismaster，asiftoseewhethertherewereanysymptomsofhisdeterminationbeingshakenbywhatpassed，Is’posetheothergen’l’menassleepshere，aregen’l’men。

Nothingbutit，saidMr。Roker。Oneof’emtakeshistwelvepintsofalea-day，andneverleavesoffsmokingevenathismeals。

Hemustbeafirst-rater，saidSam。

A，I，repliedMr。Roker。

Nothingdaunted，evenbythisintelligence，Mr。Pickwicksmilinglyannouncedhisdeterminationtotestthepowersofthenarcoticbedsteadforthatnight。andMr。Roker，afterinforminghimthathecouldretiretorestatwhateverhourhethoughtproper，withoutanyfurthernoticeorformality，walkedoff，leavinghimstandingwithSaminthegallery。

Itwasgettingdark。thatistosay，afewgasjetswerekindledinthisplacewhichwasneverlight，bywayofcomplimenttotheevening，whichhadsetinoutside。Asitwasratherwarm，someofthetenantsofthenumerouslittleroomswhichopenedintothegalleryoneitherhand，hadsettheirdoorsajar。Mr。Pickwickpeepedintothemashepassedalong，withgreatcuriosityandinterest。Herefourorfivegreathulkingfellows，justvisiblethroughacloudoftobacco-smoke，wereengagedinnoisyandriotousconversationoverhalf-emptiedpotsofbeer，orplayingatall-fourswithaverygreasypackofcards。Intheadjoiningroom，somesolitarytenantmightbeseen，poring，bythelightofafeebletallowcandle，overabundleofsoiledandtatteredpapers，yellowwithdustanddroppingtopiecesfromage：writing，forthehundredthtime，somelengthenedstatementofhisgrievances，fortheperusalofsomegreatmanwhoseeyesitwouldneverreach，orwhoseheartitwouldnevertouch。Inathird，aman，withhiswifeandawholecrowdofchildrenmightbeseenmakingupascantybedontheground，oruponafewchairs，fortheyoungeronestopassthenightin。Andinafourth，andafifth，andasixth，andaseventh，thenoise，andthebeer，andthetobacco-smoke，andthecards，allcameoveragainingreaterforcethanbefore。

Inthegalleriesthemselves，andmoreespeciallyonthestaircases，therelingeredagreatnumberofpeop