第24章

Afterthat，wewentintoChancery，wherewearestill，andwhereIshallalwaysbe。Mylawyershavehadallmythousandpoundlongago。andwhatbetweentheestate，astheycallit，andthecosts，I’mherefortenthousand，andshallstophere，tillIdie，mendingshoes。Somegentlemenhavetalkedofbringingitaforeparliament，andIdaresaywouldhavedoneit，onlytheyhadn’ttimetocometome，andIhadn’tpowertogotothem，andtheygottiredofmylongletters，anddroppedthebusiness。AndthisisGod’struth，withoutonewordofsuppressionorexaggeration，asfiftypeople，bothinthisplaceandoutofit，verywellknow。

ThecobblerpausedtoascertainwhateffecthisstoryhadproducedonSam。butfindingthathehaddroppedasleep，knockedtheashesoutofhispipe，sighed，putitdown，drewthebedclothesoverhishead，andwenttosleeptoo。

Mr。Pickwickwassittingatbreakfast，alone，nextmorning(Sambeingbusilyengagedinthecobbler’sroom，polishinghismaster’sshoesandbrushingtheblackgaiters)whentherecameaknockatthedoor，which，beforeMr。PickwickcouldcryComein！wasfollowedbytheappearanceofaheadofhairandacotton-velvetcap，bothofwhicharticlesofdresshehadnodifficultyinrecognisingasthepersonalpropertyofMr。Smangle。

Howareyou？saidthatworthy，accompanyingtheinquirywithascoreortwoofnods。Isay——doyouexpectanybodythismorning？Threemen——devilishgentlemanlyfellows——havebeenaskingafteryoudown-stairs，andknockingateverydoorontheHallflight。forwhichthey’vebeenmostinfernallyblownupbythecollegiansthathadthetroubleofopening’em。

Dearme！Howveryfoolishofthem，saidMr。Pickwick，rising。Yes。

IhavenodoubttheyaresomefriendswhomIratherexpectedtosee，yesterday。

Friendsofyours！exclaimedSmangle，seizingMr。Pickwickbythehand。

Saynomore。Curseme，they’refriendsofminefromthisminute，andfriendsofMivins’stoo。Infernalpleasant，gentlemanlydog，Mivins，isn’the？

saidSmangle，withgreatfeeling。

Iknowsolittleofthegentleman，saidMr。Pickwick，hesitating，thatI——

Iknowyoudo，interposedSmangle，claspingMr。Pickwickbytheshoulder。

Youshallknowhimbetter。You’llbedelightedwithhim。Thatman，sir，

saidSmangle，withasolemncountenance，hascomicpowersthatwoulddohonourtoDruryLaneTheatre。

Hasheindeed？saidMr。Pickwick。

Ah，byJovehehas！repliedSmangle。Hearhimcomethefourcatsinthewheelbarrow——fourdistinctcats，sir，Ipledgeyoumyhonour。Nowyouknowthat’sinfernalclever！Damme，youcan’thelplikingaman，whenyouseethesetraitsabouthim。He’sonlyonefault——thatlittlefailingImentionedtoyou，youknow。

AsMr。Smangleshookhisheadinaconfidentialandsympathisingmanneratthisjuncture，Mr。Pickwickfeltthathewasexpectedtosaysomething，sohesaidAh！andlookedrestlesslyatthedoor。

Ah！echoedMr。Smangle，withalong-drawnsigh。He’sdelightfulcompany，thatmanis，sir。Idon’tknowbettercompanyanywhere。buthehasthatonedrawback。Iftheghostofhisgrandfather，sir，wastorisebeforehimthisminute，he’daskhimfortheloanofhisacceptanceonaneighteenpennystamp。

Dearme！exclaimedMr。Pickwick。

Yes，addedMr。Smangle。andifhe’dthepowerofraisinghimagain，hewould，intwomonthsandthreedaysfromthistime，torenewthebill！

Thoseareveryremarkabletraits，saidMr。Pickwick。butI’mafraidthatwhilewearetalkinghere，myfriendsmaybeinastateofgreatperplexityatnotfindingme。

I’llshow’emtheway，saidSmangle，makingforthedoor。Goodday。

Iwon’tdisturbyouwhilethey’rehere，youknow。By-the-bye——

AsSmanglepronouncedthelastthreewords，hestoppedsuddenly，re-closedthedoorwhichhehadopened，and，walkingsoftlybacktoMr。Pickwick，steppedcloseuptohimontip-toe，andsaidinaverysoftwhisper：

Youcouldn’tmakeitconvenienttolendmehalf-a-crowntillthelatterendofnextweek，couldyou？

Mr。Pickwickcouldscarcelyforbearsmiling，butmanagingtopreservehisgravity，hedrewforththecoin，andplaceditinMr。Smangle’spalm。

uponwhich，thatgentleman，withmanynodsandwinks，implyingprofoundmystery，disappearedinquestofthethreestrangers，withwhomhepresentlyreturned。andhavingcoughedthrice，andnoddedasmanytimes，asanassurancetoMr。Pickwickthathewouldnotforgettopay，heshookhandsallround，inanengagingmanner，andatlengthtookhimselfoff。

Mydearfriends，saidMr。Pickwick，shakinghandsalternatelywithMr。Tupman，Mr。Winkle，andMr。Snodgrass，whowerethethreevisitorsinquestion，Iamdelightedtoseeyou。

Thetriumvirateweremuchaffected。Mr。Tupmanshookhisheaddeploringly。

Mr。Snodgrassdrewforthhishandkerchief，withundisguisedemotion。andMr。Winkleretiredtothewindowandsniffedaloud。

Mornin’，gen’l’m’n，saidSam，enteringatthemomentwiththeshoesandgaiters。Avayvithmelincholly，asthelittleboysaidvenhisschool-missisdied。VelcometotheCollege，gen’l’m’n。

Thisfoolishfellow，saidMr。Pickwick，tappingSamontheheadashekneltdowntobuttonuphismaster’sgaiters：Thisfoolishfellowhasgothimselfarrested，inordertobenearme。

What！exclaimedthethreefriends。

Yes，gen’l’m’n，saidSam，I’ma——standsteady，sir，ifyouplease——I’mapris’ner，gen’l’m’n。Con-fined，astheladysaid。

Aprisoner！exclaimedMr。Winkle，withunaccountablevehemence。

Hallo，sir！respondedSam，lookingup。Wot’sthematter，sir？

Ihadhoped，Sam，that——nothing，nothing，saidMr。Winkle，precipitately。

TherewassomethingsoveryabruptandunsettledinMr。Winkle’smanner，thatMr。Pickwickinvoluntarilylookedathistwofriendsforanexplanation。

Wedon’tknow，saidMr。Tupman，answeringthismuteappealaloud。

Hehasbeenmuchexcitedfortwodayspast，andhiswholedemeanourveryunlikewhatitusuallyis。Wefeartheremustbesomethingthematter，butheresolutelydeniesit。

No，no，saidMr。Winkle，colouringbeneathMr。Pickwick’sgaze。thereisreallynothing。Iassureyouthereisnothing，mydearsir。Itwillbenecessaryformetoleavetown，forashorttime，onprivatebusiness，andIhadhopedtohaveprevaileduponyoutoallowSamtoaccompanyme。

Mr。Pickwicklookedmoreastonishedthanbefore。

Ithink，falteredMr。Winkle，thatSamwouldhavehadnoobjectiontodoso。but，ofcourse，hisbeingaprisonerhere，rendersitimpossible。

SoImustgoalone。

AsMr。Winklesaidthesewords，Mr。Pickwickfelt，withsomeastonishment，thatSam’sfingersweretremblingatthegaiters，asifhewererathersurprisedorstartled。SamlookedupatMr。Winkle，too，whenhehadfinishedspeaking。andthoughtheglancetheyexchangedwasinstantaneous，theyseemedtounderstandeachother。

Doyouknowanythingofthis，Sam？saidMr。Pickwick，sharply。

No，Idon’t，sir，repliedMr。Weller，beginningtobuttonwithextraordinaryassiduity。

Areyousure，Sam？saidMr。Pickwick。

Wy，sir，respondedMr。Weller。I’msuresofar，thatI’veneverheerdanythin’onthesubjectaforethismoment。IfImakesanyguessaboutit，

addedSam，lookingatMr。Winkle，Ihaven’tgotanyrighttosaywotitis，’fearitshouldbeawrong’un。

Ihavenorighttomakeanyfurtherinquiryintotheprivateaffairsofafriend，howeverintimateafriend，saidMr。Pickwick，afterashortsilence。atpresentletmemerelysay，thatIdonotunderstandthisatall。There。Wehavehadquiteenoughofthesubject。

Thusexpressinghimself，Mr。Pickwickledtheconversationtodifferenttopics，andMr。Winklegraduallyappearedmoreatease，thoughstillveryfarfrombeingcompletelyso。Theyhadallsomuchtoconverseabout，thatthemorningveryquicklypassedaway。andwhen，atthreeo’clock，Mr。Wellerproduceduponthelittlediningtable，aroastlegofmuttonandanenormousmeatpie，withsundrydishesofvegetables，andpotsofporter，whichstooduponthechairsorthesofa-bedstead，orwheretheycould，everybodyfeltdisposedtodojusticetothemeal，notwithstandingthatthemeathadbeenpurchased，anddressed，andthepiemade，andbaked，attheprisoncookeryhardby。

Tothesesucceededabottleortwoofverygoodwine，forwhichamessengerwasdispatchedbyMr。PickwicktotheHornCoffee-house，inDoctors’Commons。

Thebottleortwo，indeed，mightbemoreproperlydescribedasabottleorsix，forbythetimeitwasdrunk，andteaover，thebellbegantoringforstrangerstowithdraw。

But，ifMr。Winkle’sbehaviourhadbeenunaccountableinthemorning，itbecameperfectlyunearthlyandsolemnwhen，undertheinfluenceofhisfeelings，andhisshareofthebottleorsix，hepreparedtotakeleaveofhisfriend。Helingeredbehind，untilMr。TupmanandMr。Snodgrasshaddisappeared，andthenferventlyclenchedMr。Pickwick’shand，withanexpressionoffaceinwhichdeepandmightyresolvewasfearfullyblendedwiththeveryconcentratedessenceofgloom。

Goodnight，mydearsir！saidMr。Winklebetweenhissetteeth。

Blessyou，mydearfellow！repliedthewarm-heartedMr。Pickwick，ashereturnedthepressureofhisyoungfriend’shand。

Nowthen！criedMr。Tupmanfromthegallery。

Yes，yes，directly，repliedMr。Winkle。Goodnight！

Goodnight，saidMr。Pickwick。

Therewasanothergoodnight，andanother，andhalf-a-dozenmoreafterthat，andstillMr。Winklehadfastholdofhisfriend’shand，andwaslookingintohisfacewiththesamestrangeexpression。

Isanythingthematter？saidMr。Pickwickatlast，whenhisarmwasquitesorewithshaking。

Nothing，saidMr。Winkle。

Wellthen，goodnight，saidMr。Pickwick，attemptingtodisengagehishand。

Myfriend，mybenefactor，myhonouredcompanion，murmuredMr。Winkle，catchingathiswrist。Donotjudgemeharshly。donot，whenyouhearthat，driventoextremitybyhopelessobstacles，I——

Nowthen，saidMr。Tupman，re-appearingatthedoor。Areyoucoming，orarewetobelockedin？

Yes，yes，Iamready，repliedMr。Winkle。Andwithaviolentefforthetorehimselfaway。

AsMr。Pickwickwasgazingdownthepassageaftertheminsilentastonishment，SamWellerappearedatthestairhead，andwhisperedforonemomentinMr。

Winkle’sear。

Ohcertainly，dependuponme，saidthatgentlemanaloud。

Thank’ee，sir。Youwon’tforget，sir？saidSam。

Ofcoursenot，repliedMr。Winkle。

Wishyouluck，sir，saidSam，touchinghishat。Ishouldverymuchliketoha’joinedyou，sir。butthegov’nero’courseispairamount。

Itisverymuchtoyourcreditthatyouremainhere，saidMr。Winkle。

Withthesewordstheydisappeareddownthestairs。

Veryextraordinary，saidMr。Pickwick，goingbackintohisroom，andseatinghimselfatthetableinamusingattitude。

Whatcanthatyoungmanbegoingtodo？

Hehadsatruminatingaboutthematterforsometime，whenthevoiceofRoker，theturnkey，demandedwhetherhemightcomein。

Byallmeans，saidMr。Pickwick。

I’vebroughtyouasofterpillow，sir，saidRoker，insteadofthetemporaryoneyouhadlastnight。

Thankyou，saidMr。Pickwick。Willyoutakeaglassofwine？

You’rewerygood，sir，repliedMr。Roker，acceptingtheprofferedglass。Yours，sir。

Thankyou，saidMr。Pickwick。

I’msorrytosaythatyourlandlord’swerybadto-night，sir，saidRoker，settingdowntheglass，andinspectingtheliningofhishatpreparatorytoputtingitonagain。

What！TheChanceryprisoner！exclaimedMr。Pickwick。

Hewon’tbeaChanceryprisonerwerylong，sir，repliedRoker，turninghishatround，soastogetthemaker’snamerightsideupwards，ashelookedintoit。

Youmakemybloodruncold，saidMr。Pickwick。Whatdoyoumean？

He’sbeenconsumptiveforalongtimepast，saidMr。Roker，andhe’stakenwerybadinthebreathto-night。Thedoctorsaid，sixmonthsago，thatnothingbutchangeofaircouldsavehim。

GreatHeaven！exclaimedMr。Pickwick。hasthismanbeenslowlymurderedbythelawforsixmonths？

Idon’tknowaboutthat，repliedRoker，weighingthehatbythebrimsinbothhands。Isupposehe’dhavebeentookthesame，whereverhewas。

Hewentintotheinfirmary，thismorning。thedoctorsayshisstrengthistobekeptupasmuchaspossible。andthewarden’ssenthimwineandbrothandthat，fromhisownhouseIt’snotthewarden’sfault，youknow，sir，

Ofcoursenot，repliedMr。Pickwickhastily。

I’mafraid，however，saidRoker，shakinghishead，thatit’sallupwithhim。IofferedNeddytwosixpenn’orthstooneuponitjustnow，buthewouldn’ttakeit，andquiteright。Thank’ee，sir。Goodnight，sir。

Stay，saidMr。Pickwickearnestly。Whereisthisinfirmary？

Justoverwhereyouslept，sir，repliedRoker。I’llshowyou，ifyouliketocome。Mr。Pickwicksnatcheduphishatwithoutspeaking，andfollowedatonce。

Theturnkeyledthewayinsilence。andgentlyraisingthelatchoftheroom-door，motionedMr。Pickwicktoenter。Itwasalarge，bare，desolateroom，withanumberofstumpbedsteadsmadeofiron：ononeofwhichlaystretched，theshadowofaman：wan，pale，andghastly。Hisbreathingwashardandthick，andhemoanedpainfullyasitcameandwent。Atthebedsidesatashortoldmaninacobbler’sapron，who，bytheaidofapairofhornspectacles，wasreadingfromtheBiblealoud。Itwasthefortunatelegatee。

Thesickmanlaidhishanduponhisattendant’sarm，andmotionedhimtostop。Heclosedthebook，andlaiditonthebed。

Openthewindow，saidthesickman。

Hedidso。Thenoiseofcarriagesandcarts，therattleofwheels，thecriesofmenandboys，allthebusysoundsofamightymultitudeinstinctwithlifeandoccupation，blendedintoonedeepmurmur，floatedintotheroom。Abovethehoarseloudhum，arosefromtimetotimeaboisterouslaugh。

orascrapofsomejinglingsong，shoutedforthbyoneofthegiddycrowd，wouldstrikeupontheearforaninstant，andthenbelostamidsttheroarofvoicesandthetrampoffootsteps。thebreakingofthebillowsoftherestlessseaoflifethatrolledheavilyon，without。Melancholysoundstoaquitelisteneratanytime。howmelancholytothewatcherbythebedofdeath！

Thereisnoairhere，saidthesickmanfaintly。Theplacepollutesit。Itwasfreshroundabout，whenIwalkedthere，yearsago。butitgrowshotandheavyinpassingthesewalls。Icannotbreatheit。

Wehavebreathedittogether，foralongtime，saidtheoldman。Come，come。

Therewasashortsilence，duringwhichthetwospectatorsapproachedthebed。Thesickmandrewahandofhisoldfellow-prisonertowardshim，andpressingitaffectionatelybetweenbothhisown，retaineditinhisgrasp。

Ihope，hegaspedafterawhile：sofaintlythattheybenttheirearscloseoverthebedtocatchthehalf-formedsoundshispalelipsgaveventto：IhopemymercifulJudgewillbearinmindmyheavypunishmentonearth。Twentyyears，myfriend，twentyyearsinthishideousgrave！Myheartbrokewhenmychilddied，andIcouldnotevenkisshiminhislittlecoffin。Mylonelinesssincethen，inallthisnoiseandriot，hasbeenverydreadful。MayGodforgiveme！Hehasseenmysolitary，lingeringdeath。

Hefoldedhishands，andmurmuringsomethingmoretheycouldnothear，fellintoasleep——onlyasleepatfirst，fortheysawhimsmile。

Theywhisperedtogetherforalittletime，andtheturnkey，stoopingoverthepillow，drewhastilyback。Hehasgothisdischarge，byG——！

saidtheman。

Hehad。Buthehadgrownsolikedeathinlife，thattheyknewnotwhenhedied。

[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter45[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXLVDESCRIPTIVEOFANAFFECTINGINTERVIEWBETWEENMR。

SAMUELWELLERANDAFAMILYPARTY。MR。PICKWICKMAKESATOUROFTHEDIMINUTIVE

WORLDHEINHABITS，ANDRESOLVESTOMIXWITHIT，INFUTURE，ASLITTLEAS

POSSIBLE

AFEWmorningsafterhisincarceration，Mr。SamuelWeller，havingarrangedhismaster’sroomwithallpossiblecare，andseenhimcomfortablyseatedoverhisbooksandpapers，withdrewtoemployhimselfforanhourortwotocome，ashebestcould。Itwasafinemorning，anditoccurredtoSamthatapintofporterintheopenairwouldlightenhisnextquarterofanhourorso，aswellasanylittleamusementinwhichhecouldindulge。

Havingarrivedatthisconclusion，hebetookhimselftothetap。Havingpurchasedthebeer，andobtained，moreover，theday-but-one-before-yesterday’spaper，herepairedtotheskittle-ground，andseatinghimselfonabench，proceededtoenjoyhimselfinaverysedateandmethodicalmanner。

Firstofall，hetookarefreshingdraughtofthebeer，andthenhelookedupatawindow，andbestowedaPlatonicwinkonayoungladywhowaspeelingpotatoesthereat。Thenheopenedthepaper，andfoldeditsoastogetthepolicereportsoutwards。andthisbeingavexatiousanddifficultthingtodo，whenthereisanywindstirring，hetookanotherdraughtofthebeerwhenhehadaccomplishedit。Then，hereadtwolinesofthepaper，andstoppedshort，tolookatacoupleofmenwhowerefinishingagameatrackets，whichbeingconcluded，hecriedoutwerygoodinanapprovingmanner，andlookedrounduponthespectators，whethertheirsentimentscoincidedwithhisown。Thisinvolvedthenecessityoflookingupatthewindowsalso。andastheyoungladywasstillthere，itwasanactofcommonpolitenesstowinkagain，andtodrinktohergoodhealthindumbshow，inanotherdraughtofthebeer，whichSamdid。andhavingfrownedhideouslyuponasmallboywhohadnotedthislatterproceedingwithopeneyes，hethrewonelegovertheother，and，holdingthenewspaperinbothhands，begantoreadinrealearnest。

Hehadhardlycomposedhimselfintotheneedfulstateofabstraction，whenhethoughtheheardhisownnameproclaimedinsomedistantpassage。

Norwashemistaken，foritquicklypassedfrommouthtomouth，andinafewsecondstheairteemedwithshoutsofWeller！

Here！roaredSam，inastentorianvoice。Wot’sthematter？Whowantshim？Hasanexpresscometosaythathiscountry-houseisa-fire？

Somebodywantsyouinthehall，saidamanwhowasstandingby。

Justmindthat’erepaperandthepot，oldfeller，