SHOWING HOW Mr. SAMUEL WELLER GOTINTO DIFFICULTIESn a lofty room, ill-lighted and worse ventilated, situated2 inPortugal Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, there sit nearly thewhole year round, one, two, three, or four gentlemen in wigs3,as the case may be, with little writing-desks before them,constructed after the fashion of those used by the judges of theland, barring the French polish. There is a box of barristers ontheir right hand; there is an enclosure of insolvent6 debtors7 on theirleft; and there is an inclined plane of most especially dirty faces intheir front. These gentlemen are the Commissioners8 of theInsolvent Court, and the place in which they sit, is the InsolventCourt itself.
It is, and has been, time out of mind, the remarkable10 fate of thiscourt to be, somehow or other, held and understood, by thegeneral consent of all the destitute11 shabby-genteel people inLondon, as their common resort, and place of daily refuge. It isalways full. The steams of beer and spirits perpetually ascend12 tothe ceiling, and, being condensed by the heat, roll down the wallslike rain; there are more old suits of clothes in it at one time, thanwill be offered for sale in all Houndsditch in a twelvemonth; moreunwashed skins and grizzly13 beards than all the pumps andshaving-shops between Tyburn and Whitechapel could renderdecent, between sunrise and sunset.
It must not be supposed that any of these people have the leastshadow of business in, or the remotest connection with, the placethey so indefatigably14 attend. If they had, it would be no matter ofsurprise, and the singularity of the thing would cease. Some ofthem sleep during the greater part of the sitting; others carrysmall portable dinners wrapped in pocket-handkerchiefs orsticking out of their worn-out pockets, and munch15 and listen withequal relish16; but no one among them was ever known to have theslightest personal interest in any case that was ever broughtforward. Whatever they do, there they sit from the first moment tothe last. When it is heavy, rainy weather, they all come in, wetthrough; and at such times the vapours of the court are like thoseof a fungus-pit.
A casual visitor might suppose this place to be a templededicated to the Genius of Seediness. There is not a messenger orprocess-server attached to it, who wears a coat that was made forhim; not a tolerably fresh, or wholesome-looking man in the wholeestablishment, except a little white-headed apple-faced tipstaff,and even he, like an ill-conditioned cherry preserved in brandy,seems to have artificially dried and withered17 up into a state ofpreservation to which he can lay no natural claim. The verybarristers’ wigs are ill-powdered, and their curls lack crispness.
But the attorneys, who sit at a large bare table below thecommissioners, are, after all, the greatest curiosities. Theprofessional establishment of the more opulent of thesegentlemen, consists of a blue bag and a boy; generally a youth ofthe Jewish persuasion18. They have no fixed19 offices, their legalbusiness being transacted20 in the parlours of public-houses, or theyards of prisons, whither they repair in crowds, and canvass21 forcustomers after the manner of omnibus cads. They are of a greasyand mildewed23 appearance; and if they can be said to have anyvices at all, perhaps drinking and cheating are the mostconspicuous among them. Their residences are usually on theoutskirts of ‘the Rules,’ chiefly lying within a circle of one milefrom the obelisk24 in St. George’s Fields. Their looks are notprepossessing, and their manners are peculiar25.
Mr. Solomon Pell, one of this learned body, was a fat, flabby,pale man, in a surtout which looked green one minute, and brownthe next, with a velvet26 collar of the same chameleon27 tints28. Hisforehead was narrow, his face wide, his head large, and his noseall on one side, as if Nature, indignant with the propensities29 sheobserved in him in his birth, had given it an angry tweak which ithad never recovered. Being short-necked and asthmatic, however,he respired principally through this feature; so, perhaps, what itwanted in ornament30, it made up in usefulness.
‘I’m sure to bring him through it,’ said Mr. Pell.
‘Are you, though?’ replied the person to whom the assurancewas pledged.
‘Certain sure,’ replied Pell; ‘but if he’d gone to any irregularpractitioner, mind you, I wouldn’t have answered for theconsequences.’
‘Ah!’ said the other, with open mouth.
‘No, that I wouldn’t,’ said Mr. Pell; and he pursed up his lips,frowned, and shook his head mysteriously.
Now, the place where this discourse31 occurred was the public-house just opposite to the Insolvent Court; and the person withwhom it was held was no other than the elder Mr. Weller, who hadcome there, to comfort and console a friend, whose petition to bedischarged under the act, was to be that day heard, and whoseattorney he was at that moment consulting.
‘And vere is George?’ inquired the old gentleman.
Mr. Pell jerked his head in the direction of a back parlour,whither Mr. Weller at once repairing, was immediately greeted inthe warmest and most flattering manner by some half-dozen of hisprofessional brethren, in token of their gratification at his arrival.
The insolvent gentleman, who had contracted a speculative32 butimprudent passion for horsing long stages, which had led to hispresent embarrassments33, looked extremely well, and was soothingthe excitement of his feelings with shrimps34 and porter.
The salutation between Mr. Weller and his friends was strictlyconfined to the freemasonry of the craft; consisting of a jerkinground of the right wrist, and a tossing of the little finger into theair at the same time. We once knew two famous coachmen (theyare dead now, poor fellows) who were twins, and between whoman unaffected and devoted35 attachment36 existed. They passed eachother on the Dover road, every day, for twenty-four years, neverexchanging any other greeting than this; and yet, when one died,the other pined away, and soon afterwards followed him!
‘Vell, George,’ said Mr. Weller senior, taking off his upper coat,and seating himself with his accustomed gravity. ‘How is it? Allright behind, and full inside?’
‘All right, old feller,’ replied the embarrassed gentleman.
‘Is the grey mare37 made over to anybody?’ inquired Mr. Welleranxiously. George nodded in the affirmative.
‘Vell, that’s all right,’ said Mr. Weller. ‘Coach taken care on,also?’
‘Con-signed in a safe quarter,’ replied George, wringing38 theheads off half a dozen shrimps, and swallowing them without anymore ado.
‘Wery good, wery good,’ said Mr. Weller. ‘Alvays see to the dragven you go downhill. Is the vay-bill all clear and straight for’erd?’
‘The schedule, sir,’ said Pell, guessing at Mr. Weller’s meaning,‘the schedule is as plain and satisfactory as pen and ink can makeit.’
Mr. Weller nodded in a manner which bespoke39 his inwardapproval of these arrangements; and then, turning to Mr. Pell,said, pointing to his friend George―‘Ven do you take his cloths off?’
‘Why,’ replied Mr. Pell, ‘he stands third on the opposed list, andI should think it would be his turn in about half an hour. I told myclerk to come over and tell us when there was a chance.’
Mr. Weller surveyed the attorney from head to foot with greatadmiration, and said emphatically―‘And what’ll you take, sir?’
‘Why, really,’ replied Mr. Pell, ‘you’re very―Upon my word andhonour, I’m not in the habit of―It’s so very early in the morning,that, actually, I am almost―Well, you may bring methreepenn’orth of rum, my dear.’
The officiating damsel, who had anticipated the order before itwas given, set the glass of spirits before Pell, and retired41.
‘Gentlemen,’ said Mr. Pell, looking round upon the company,‘success to your friend! I don’t like to boast, gentlemen; it’s not myway; but I can’t help saying, that, if your friend hadn’t beenfortunate enough to fall into hands that―But I won’t say what Iwas going to say. Gentlemen, my service to you.’ Having emptiedthe glass in a twinkling, Mr. Pell smacked42 his lips, and lookedcomplacently round on the assembled coachmen, who evidentlyregarded him as a species of divinity.
‘Let me see,’ said the legal authority. ‘What was I a-saying,gentlemen?’
‘I think you was remarkin as you wouldn’t have no objection toanother o’ the same, sir,’ said Mr. Weller, with grave facetiousness43.
‘Ha, ha!’ laughed Mr. Pell. ‘Not bad, not bad. A professionalman, too! At this time of the morning, it would be rather too gooda―Well, I don’t know, my dear―you may do that again, if youplease. Hem5!’
This last sound was a solemn and dignified44 cough, in which Mr.
Pell, observing an indecent tendency to mirth in some of hisauditors, considered it due to himself to indulge.
‘The late Lord Chancellor45, gentlemen, was very fond of me,’
said Mr. Pell.
‘And wery creditable in him, too,’ interposed Mr. Weller.
‘Hear, hear,’ assented46 Mr. Pell’s client. ‘Why shouldn’t he be?
‘Ah! Why, indeed!’ said a very red-faced man, who had saidnothing yet, and who looked extremely unlikely to say anythingmore. ‘Why shouldn’t he?’
A murmur48 of assent47 ran through the company.
‘I remember, gentlemen,’ said Mr. Pell, ‘dining with him on oneoccasion; there was only us two, but everything as splendid as iftwenty people had been expected―the great seal on a dumb-waiter at his right hand, and a man in a bag-wig and suit ofarmour guarding the mace49 with a drawn50 sword and silkstockings―which is perpetually done, gentlemen, night and day;when he said, “Pell,” he said, “no false delicacy51, Pell. You’re a manof talent; you can get anybody through the Insolvent Court, Pell;and your country should be proud of you.” Those were his verywords. “My Lord,” I said, “you flatter me.”―“Pell,” he said, “if Ido, I’m damned.”’
‘Did he say that?’ inquired Mr. Weller.
‘He did,’ replied Pell.
‘Vell, then,’ said Mr. Weller, ‘I say Parliament ought to ha’ tookit up; and if he’d been a poor man, they would ha’ done it.’
‘But, my dear friend,’ argued Mr. Pell, ‘it was in confidence.’
‘In what?’ said Mr. Weller.
‘In confidence.’
‘Oh! wery good,’ replied Mr. Weller, after a little reflection. ‘Ifhe damned hisself in confidence, o’ course that was another thing.’
‘Of course it was,’ said Mr. Pell. ‘The distinction’s obvious, youwill perceive.’
‘Alters the case entirely,’ said Mr. Weller. ‘Go on, sir.’
‘No, I will not go on, sir,’ said Mr. Pell, in a low and serious tone.
‘You have reminded me, sir, that this conversation was private―private and confidential52, gentlemen. Gentlemen, I am aprofessional man. It may be that I am a good deal looked up to, inmy profession―it may be that I am not. Most people know. I saynothing. Observations have already been made, in this room,injurious to the reputation of my noble friend. You will excuse me,gentlemen; I was imprudent. I feel that I have no right to mentionthis matter without his concurrence53. Thank you, sir; thank you.’
Thus delivering himself, Mr. Pell thrust his hands into his pockets,and, frowning grimly around, rattled54 three halfpence with terribledetermination.
This virtuous55 resolution had scarcely been formed, when theboy and the blue bag, who were inseparable companions, rushedviolently into the room, and said (at least the boy did, for the bluebag took no part in the announcement) that the case was comingon directly. The intelligence was no sooner received than thewhole party hurried across the street, and began to fight their wayinto court―a preparatory ceremony, which has been calculated tooccupy, in ordinary cases, from twenty-five minutes to thirty.
Mr. Weller, being stout56, cast himself at once into the crowd,with the desperate hope of ultimately turning up in some placewhich would suit him. His success was not quite equal to hisexpectations; for having neglected to take his hat off, it wasknocked over his eyes by some unseen person, upon whose toes hehad alighted with considerable force. Apparently57 this individualregretted his impetuosity immediately afterwards, for, mutteringan indistinct exclamation58 of surprise, he dragged the old man outinto the hall, and, after a violent struggle, released his head andface.
‘Samivel!’ exclaimed Mr. Weller, when he was thus enabled tobehold his rescuer.
Sam nodded.
‘You’re a dutiful and affectionate little boy, you are, ain’t you,’
said Mr. Weller, ‘to come a-bonnetin’ your father in his old age?’
‘How should I know who you wos?’ responded the son. ‘Do yous’pose I wos to tell you by the weight o’ your foot?’
‘Vell, that’s wery true, Sammy,’ replied Mr. Weller, mollified atonce; ‘but wot are you a-doin’ on here? Your gov’nor can’t do nogood here, Sammy. They won’t pass that werdick, they won’t passit, Sammy.’ And Mr. Weller shook his head with legal solemnity.
‘Wot a perwerse old file it is!’ exclaimed Sam. ‘always a-goin’ onabout werdicks and alleybis and that. Who said anything about thewerdick?’
Mr. Weller made no reply, but once more shook his head mostlearnedly.
‘Leave off rattlin’ that ’ere nob o’ yourn, if you don’t want it tocome off the springs altogether,’ said Sam impatiently, ‘andbehave reasonable. I vent1 all the vay down to the Markis o’
Granby, arter you, last night.’
‘Did you see the Marchioness o’ Granby, Sammy?’ inquired Mr.
Weller, with a sigh.
‘Yes, I did,’ replied Sam.
‘How wos the dear creetur a-lookin’?’
‘Wery queer,’ said Sam. ‘I think she’s a-injurin’ herselfgradivally vith too much o’ that ’ere pine-apple rum, and otherstrong medicines of the same natur.’
‘You don’t mean that, Sammy?’ said the senior earnestly.
‘I do, indeed,’ replied the junior. Mr. Weller seized his son’shand, clasped it, and let it fall. There was an expression on hiscountenance in doing so―not of dismay or apprehension60, butpartaking more of the sweet and gentle character of hope. A gleamof resignation, and even of cheerfulness, passed over his face too,as he slowly said, ‘I ain’t quite certain, Sammy; I wouldn’t like tosay I wos altogether positive, in case of any subsekentdisappointment, but I rayther think, my boy, I rayther think, thatthe shepherd’s got the liver complaint!’
‘Does he look bad?’ inquired Sam.
‘He’s uncommon61 pale,’ replied his father, ‘‘cept about the nose,which is redder than ever. His appetite is wery so-so, but heimbibes wonderful.’
Some thoughts of the rum appeared to obtrude62 themselves onMr. Weller’s mind, as he said this; for he looked gloomy andthoughtful; but he very shortly recovered, as was testified by aperfect alphabet of winks63, in which he was only wont64 to indulgewhen particularly pleased.
‘Vell, now,’ said Sam, ‘about my affair. Just open them ears o’
yourn, and don’t say nothin’ till I’ve done.’ With this preface, Samrelated, as succinctly65 as he could, the last memorable66 conversationhe had had with Mr. Pickwick.
‘Stop there by himself, poor creetur!’ exclaimed the elder Mr.
Weller, ‘without nobody to take his part! It can’t be done, Samivel,it can’t be done.’
‘O’ course it can’t,’ asserted Sam: ‘I know’d that, afore I came.’
‘Why, they’ll eat him up alive, Sammy,’ exclaimed Mr. Weller.
Sam nodded his concurrence in the opinion.
‘He goes in rayther raw, Sammy,’ said Mr. Wellermetaphorically, ‘and he’ll come out, done so ex-ceedin’ brown, thathis most formiliar friends won’t know him. Roast pigeon’s nothin’
to it, Sammy.’
Again Sam Weller nodded.
‘It oughtn’t to be, Samivel,’ said Mr. Weller gravely.
‘It mustn’t be,’ said Sam.
‘Cert’nly not,’ said Mr. Weller.
‘Vell now,’ said Sam, ‘you’ve been a-prophecyin’ away, weryfine, like a red-faced Nixon, as the sixpenny books gives picterson.’
‘Who wos he, Sammy?’ inquired Mr. Weller.
‘Never mind who he was,’ retorted Sam; ‘he warn’t a coachman;that’s enough for you.’
‘I know’d a ostler o’ that name,’ said Mr. Weller, musing67.
‘It warn’t him,’ said Sam. ‘This here gen’l’m’n was a prophet.’
‘Wot’s a prophet?’ inquired Mr. Weller, looking sternly on hisson.
‘Wy, a man as tells what’s a-goin’ to happen,’ replied Sam.
‘I wish I’d know’d him, Sammy,’ said Mr. Weller. ‘P’raps hemight ha’ throw’d a small light on that ’ere liver complaint as wewos a-speakin’ on, just now. Hows’ever, if he’s dead, and ain’t leftthe bisness to nobody, there’s an end on it. Go on, Sammy,’ saidMr. Weller, with a sigh.
‘Well,’ said Sam, ‘you’ve been a-prophecyin’ avay about wot’llhappen to the gov’ner if he’s left alone. Don’t you see any way o’
takin’ care on him?’
‘No, I don’t, Sammy,’ said Mr. Weller, with a reflective visage.
‘No vay at all?’ inquired Sam.
‘No vay,’ said Mr. Weller, ‘unless’―and a gleam of intelligencelighted up his countenance59 as he sank his voice to a whisper, andapplied his mouth to the ear of his offspring―‘unless it is gettinghim out in a turn-up bedstead, unbeknown to the turnkeys,Sammy, or dressin’ him up like a old ’ooman vith a green wail68.’
Sam Weller received both of these suggestions with unexpectedcontempt, and again propounded69 his question.
‘No,’ said the old gentleman; ‘if he von’t let you stop there, I seeno vay at all. It’s no thoroughfare, Sammy, no thoroughfare.’
‘Well, then, I’ll tell you wot it is,’ said Sam, ‘I’ll trouble you forthe loan of five-and-twenty pound.’
‘Wot good’ll that do?’ inquired Mr. Weller.
‘Never mind,’ replied Sam. ‘P’raps you may ask for it five minitsarterwards; p’raps I may say I von’t pay, and cut up rough. Youvon’t think o’ arrestin’ your own son for the money, and sendin’
him off to the Fleet, will you, you unnat’ral wagabone?’
At this reply of Sam’s, the father and son exchanged a completecode of telegraph nods and gestures, after which, the elder Mr.
Weller sat himself down on a stone step and laughed till he waspurple.
‘Wot a old image it is!’ exclaimed Sam, indignant at this loss oftime. ‘What are you a-settin’ down there for, con-wertin’ your faceinto a street-door knocker, wen there’s so much to be done.
Where’s the money?’
‘In the boot, Sammy, in the boot,’ replied Mr. Weller,composing his features. ‘Hold my hat, Sammy.’
Having divested71 himself of this encumbrance72, Mr. Weller gavehis body a sudden wrench73 to one side, and by a dexterous74 twist,contrived to get his right hand into a most capacious pocket, fromwhence, after a great deal of panting and exertion75, he extricated76 apocket-book of the large octavo size, fastened by a huge leathernstrap. From this ledger77 he drew forth70 a couple of whiplashes, threeor four buckles78, a little sample-bag of corn, and, finally, a small rollof very dirty bank-notes, from which he selected the requiredamount, which he handed over to Sam.
‘And now, Sammy,’ said the old gentleman, when the whip-lashes, and the buckles, and the samples, had been all put back,and the book once more deposited at the bottom of the samepocket, ‘now, Sammy, I know a gen’l’m’n here, as’ll do the rest o’
the bisness for us, in no time―a limb o’ the law, Sammy, as hasgot brains like the frogs, dispersed79 all over his body, and reachin’
to the wery tips of his fingers; a friend of the LordChancellorship’s, Sammy, who’d only have to tell him what hewanted, and he’d lock you up for life, if that wos all.’
‘I say,’ said Sam, ‘none o’ that.’
‘None o’ wot?’ inquired Mr. Weller.
‘Wy, none o’ them unconstitootional ways o’ doin’ it,’ retortedSam. ‘The have-his-carcass, next to the perpetual motion, is vun ofthe blessedest things as wos ever made. I’ve read that ’ere in thenewspapers wery of’en.’
‘Well, wot’s that got to do vith it?’ inquired Mr. Weller.
‘Just this here,’ said Sam, ‘that I’ll patronise the inwention, andgo in, that vay. No visperin’s to the Chancellorship―I don’t likethe notion. It mayn’t be altogether safe, vith reference to gettin’
out agin.’
Deferring to his son’s feeling upon this point, Mr. Weller at oncesought the erudite Solomon Pell, and acquainted him with hisdesire to issue a writ4, instantly, for the sum of twenty-five pounds,and costs of process; to be executed without delay upon the bodyof one Samuel Weller; the charges thereby80 incurred81, to be paid inadvance to Solomon Pell.
The attorney was in high glee, for the embarrassed coach-horser was ordered to be discharged forthwith. He highlyapproved of Sam’s attachment to his master; declared that itstrongly reminded him of his own feelings of devotion to hisfriend, the Chancellor; and at once led the elder Mr. Weller downto the Temple, to swear the affidavit82 of debt, which the boy, withthe assistance of the blue bag, had drawn up on the spot.
Meanwhile, Sam, having been formally introduced to thewhitewashed gentleman and his friends, as the offspring of Mr.
Weller, of the Belle83 Savage84, was treated with marked distinction,and invited to regale85 himself with them in honour of theoccasion―an invitation which he was by no means backward inaccepting.
The mirth of gentlemen of this class is of a grave and quietcharacter, usually; but the present instance was one of peculiarfestivity, and they relaxed in proportion. After some rathertumultuous toasting of the Chief Commissioner9 and Mr. SolomonPell, who had that day displayed such transcendent abilities, amottled-faced gentleman in a blue shawl proposed that somebodyshould sing a song. The obvious suggestion was, that the mottled-faced gentleman, being anxious for a song, should sing it himself;but this the mottled-faced gentleman sturdily, and somewhatoffensively, declined to do. Upon which, as is not unusual in suchcases, a rather angry colloquy86 ensued.
‘Gentlemen,’ said the coach-horser, ‘rather than disturb theharmony of this delightful87 occasion, perhaps Mr. Samuel Wellerwill oblige the company.’
‘Raly, gentlemen,’ said Sam, ‘I’m not wery much in the habit o’
singin’ without the instrument; but anythin’ for a quiet life, as theman said wen he took the sitivation at the lighthouse.’
With this prelude88, Mr. Samuel Weller burst at once into thefollowing wild and beautiful legend, which, under the impressionthat it is not generally known, we take the liberty of quoting. Wewould beg to call particular attention to the monosyllable at theend of the second and fourth lines, which not only enables thesinger to take breath at those points, but greatly assists the metre.
Bold Turpin vunce, on Hounslow Heath,His bold mare Bess bestrode―er;Ven there he see’d the Bishop89’s coachA-coming along the road―er.
So he gallops90 close to the ’orse’s legs,And he claps his head vithin;And the Bishop says, ‘Sure as eggs is eggs,This here’s the bold Turpin!’
CHORUSAnd the Bishop says, ‘Sure as eggs is eggs,This here’s the bold Turpin!’
IISays Turpin, ‘You shall eat your words,With a sarse of leaden bul-let;’
So he puts a pistol to his mouth,And he fires it down his gul-let.
The coachman he not likin’ the job,Set off at full gal-lop,But Dick put a couple of balls in his nob,And perwailed on him to stop.
CHORUS (sarcastically)But Dick put a couple of balls in his nob,And perwailed on him to stop.
‘I maintain that that ’ere song’s personal to the cloth,’ said themottled-faced gentleman, interrupting it at this point. ‘I demandthe name o’ that coachman.’
‘Nobody know’d,’ replied Sam. ‘He hadn’t got his card in hispocket.’
‘I object to the introduction o’ politics,’ said the mottled-facedgentleman. ‘I submit that, in the present company, that ’ere song’spolitical; and, wot’s much the same, that it ain’t true. I say thatthat coachman did not run away; but that he died game―game aspheasants; and I won’t hear nothin’ said to the contrairey.’
As the mottled-faced gentleman spoke40 with great energy anddetermination, and as the opinions of the company seemeddivided on the subject, it threatened to give rise to freshaltercation, when Mr. Weller and Mr. Pell most opportunelyarrived.
‘All right, Sammy,’ said Mr. Weller.
‘The officer will be here at four o’clock,’ said Mr. Pell. ‘I supposeyou won’t run away meanwhile, eh? Ha! ha!’
‘P’raps my cruel pa ’ull relent afore then,’ replied Sam, with abroad grin.
‘Not I,’ said the elder Mr. Weller.
‘Do,’ said Sam.
‘Not on no account,’ replied the inexorable creditor91.
‘I’ll give bills for the amount, at sixpence a month,’ said Sam.
‘I won’t take ’em,’ said Mr. Weller.
‘Ha, ha, ha! very good, very good,’ said Mr. Solomon Pell, whowas making out his little bill of costs; ‘a very amusing incidentindeed! Benjamin, copy that.’ And Mr. Pell smiled again, as hecalled Mr. Weller’s attention to the amount.
‘Thank you, thank you,’ said the professional gentleman, takingup another of the greasy22 notes as Mr. Weller took it from thepocket-book. ‘Three ten and one ten is five. Much obliged to you,Mr. Weller. Your son is a most deserving young man, very much soindeed, sir. It’s a very pleasant trait in a young man’s character,very much so,’ added Mr. Pell, smiling smoothly92 round, as hebuttoned up the money.
‘Wot a game it is!’ said the elder Mr. Weller, with a chuckle93. ‘Areg’lar prodigy94 son!’
‘Prodigal―prodigal son, sir,’ suggested Mr. Pell, mildly.
‘Never mind, sir,’ said Mr. Weller, with dignity. ‘I know wot’so’clock, sir. Wen I don’t, I’ll ask you, sir.’
By the time the officer arrived, Sam had made himself soextremely popular, that the congregated95 gentlemen determined96 tosee him to prison in a body. So off they set; the plaintiff anddefendant walking arm in arm, the officer in front, and eight stoutcoachmen bringing up the rear. At Serjeant’s Inn Coffee-house thewhole party halted to refresh, and, the legal arrangements beingcompleted, the procession moved on again.
Some little commotion98 was occasioned in Fleet Street, by thepleasantry of the eight gentlemen in the flank, who persevered99 inwalking four abreast100; it was also found necessary to leave themottled-faced gentleman behind, to fight a ticket-porter, it beingarranged that his friends should call for him as they came back.
Nothing but these little incidents occurred on the way. When theyreached the gate of the Fleet, the cavalcade101, taking the time fromthe plaintiff, gave three tremendous cheers for the defendant97, and,after having shaken hands all round, left him.
Sam, having been formally delivered into the warder’s custody,to the intense astonishment102 of Roker, and to the evident emotionof even the phlegmatic103 Neddy, passed at once into the prison,walked straight to his master’s room, and knocked at the door.
‘Come in,’ said Mr. Pickwick.
Sam appeared, pulled off his hat, and smiled.
‘Ah, Sam, my good lad!’ said Mr. Pickwick, evidently delightedto see his humble104 friend again; ‘I had no intention of hurting yourfeelings yesterday, my faithful fellow, by what I said. Put downyour hat, Sam, and let me explain my meaning, a little more atlength.’
‘Won’t presently do, sir?’ inquired Sam.
‘Certainly,’ said Mr. Pickwick; ‘but why not now?’
‘I’d rayther not now, sir,’ rejoined Sam.
‘Why?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick.
‘’Cause―‘ said Sam, hesitating.
‘Because of what?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick, alarmed at hisfollower’s manner. ‘Speak out, Sam.’
‘’Cause,’ rejoined Sam―‘’cause I’ve got a little bisness as I wantto do.’
‘What business?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick, surprised at Sam’sconfused manner.
‘Nothin’ partickler, sir,’ replied Sam.
‘Oh, if it’s nothing particular,’ said Mr. Pickwick, with a smile,‘you can speak with me first.’
‘I think I’d better see arter it at once,’ said Sam, still hesitating.
Mr. Pickwick looked amazed, but said nothing.
‘The fact is―‘ said Sam, stopping short.
‘Well!’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Speak out, Sam.’
‘Why, the fact is,’ said Sam, with a desperate effort, ‘perhaps I’dbetter see arter my bed afore I do anythin’ else.’
‘Your bed!’ exclaimed Mr. Pickwick, in astonishment.
‘Yes, my bed, sir,’ replied Sam, ‘I’m a prisoner. I was arrestedthis here wery arternoon for debt.’
‘You arrested for debt!’ exclaimed Mr. Pickwick, sinking into achair.
‘Yes, for debt, sir,’ replied Sam. ‘And the man as puts me in, ’ullnever let me out till you go yourself.’
‘Bless my heart and soul!’ ejaculated Mr. Pickwick. ‘What doyou mean?’
‘Wot I say, sir,’ rejoined Sam. ‘If it’s forty years to come, I shallbe a prisoner, and I’m very glad on it; and if it had been Newgate,it would ha’ been just the same. Now the murder’s out, and,damme, there’s an end on it!’
With these words, which he repeated with great emphasis andviolence, Sam Weller dashed his hat upon the ground, in a mostunusual state of excitement; and then, folding his arms, lookedfirmly and fixedly105 in his master’s face.
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situated
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3
wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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insolvent
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| adj.破产的，无偿还能力的 | |
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7
debtors
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| n.债务人，借方( debtor的名词复数 ) | |
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commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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9
commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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11
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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12
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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13
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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indefatigably
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| adv.不厌倦地，不屈不挠地 | |
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15
munch
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| v.用力嚼，大声咀嚼 | |
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16
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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17
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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18
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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19
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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20
transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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21
canvass
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| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
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22
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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23
mildewed
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| adj.发了霉的，陈腐的，长了霉花的v.（使）发霉，（使）长霉( mildew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
obelisk
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| n.方尖塔 | |
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25
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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chameleon
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| n.变色龙，蜥蜴；善变之人 | |
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28
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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30
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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embarrassments
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| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
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shrimps
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| n.虾，小虾( shrimp的名词复数 )；矮小的人 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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37
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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38
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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39
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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40
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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41
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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42
smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
facetiousness
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| n.滑稽 | |
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44
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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45
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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48
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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49
mace
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| n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮 | |
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50
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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53
concurrence
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| n.同意；并发 | |
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54
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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57
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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58
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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59
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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60
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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62
obtrude
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| v.闯入；侵入；打扰 | |
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63
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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64
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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succinctly
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| adv.简洁地；简洁地，简便地 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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67
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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68
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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69
propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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71
divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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72
encumbrance
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| n.妨碍物，累赘 | |
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73
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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74
dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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75
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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76
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
ledger
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| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
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78
buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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79
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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80
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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81
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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82
affidavit
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| n.宣誓书 | |
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83
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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84
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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85
regale
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| v.取悦，款待 | |
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86
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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87
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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88
prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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89
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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90
gallops
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| （马等）奔驰，骑马奔驰( gallop的名词复数 ) | |
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91
creditor
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| n.债仅人，债主，贷方 | |
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92
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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93
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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94
prodigy
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| n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆 | |
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95
congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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97
defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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98
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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99
persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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101
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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102
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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103
phlegmatic
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| adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的 | |
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104
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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105
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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