THE PICKWICK CLUB. 501
sistently declined to answer the bell, and they showed themselves out. The attorney betook himself to his drawing-room, the clerk to the Magpie and Stump, and Job to Coveat Garden Market to spend the night in a vegetable basket.
Punctually at the appointed hour next morning the good-humoured little attorney tapped at IMr. Pickwick's door, which was opened with great alacrity by Sam Weller.
- Mr. Perker, Sir," said Sam, announcing the visitor to Mr. Pick-
wick, who was sitting at the window in a thoughtful attitude. " Wery glad you've looked in accidentally, Sir. I rayther think the gov'ner vants to have a vord and a half vith you, Sir.*'
Perker bestowed a look of intelligence upon Sam, intimating that he understood he was not to say he had been sent for: and beckoning him to approach, whispered briefly in his ear.
" Vy, you don't mean that 'ere, Sir ? said Sam, starting back in excessive surprise.
Perker nodded and smiled.
Mr. Samuel Weller looked at the little lawyer, then at Mr. Pick- wick, then at the ceiling, then at Perker again ; grinned, laughed out- right, and finally, catching up his hat from the carpet, without further explanation disappeared.
" What does this mean?" enquired Mr. Pickwick, looking at Perker with astonishment. " What has put Sam into this most extraordinary state ? "
" Oh, nothing, nothing," replied Perker. " Come my dear Sir, draw up your chair to the table. 1 have a good deal to say to you.
" What papers are those?" enquired Mr. Pickwick, as the little man deposited on the table a small bundle of documents tied with red tape.
" The papers in Bardell and Pickwick," replied Perker, undoing the knot with his teeth.
Mr. Pickwick grated the legs of his chair against the ground ; and throwing himself into it, folded his hands and looked sternly — if Mr. Pickwick ever could look sternly — at his legal friend.
'* You don't like to hear the name of the case ?" said the little man, still busying himself with the knot.
" No, I do not indeed," replied Mr. Pickwick. " Sorry for that," resumed Perker, ^' because it will form the subject of our conversation."
" I would rather that the subject was never mentioned between us, Perker," interposed Mr. Pickwick hastily.
" Pooh pooh, my dear Sir," said the little man, untying the bundle, and glancing eagerly at Mr. Pickwick out of the corners of his eyes. " It must be mentioned. I have come here on purpose. Now, are you ready to hear what I have to say, my dear Sir? No hurry ; if you are not, I can wait. I have got this morning's paper here. Your time shall be mine. There." Hereupon the little man threw one leg over the other, and made a show of beginning to read, with great composure and application.
" Well, well," said Mr. Pickwick with a sigh, but softening into a smile at the same time. *' Say what you have to say ; it's the old story I suppose ? "
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