您的位置 : 首页 > 英文著作
Pickwick Papers, The
Chapter 40. Introduces Mr. Pickwick to a new and not uninteresting Scene in the great Drama of Life
Charles Dickens
下载:Pickwick Papers, The.txt
本书全文检索:
       _ The remainder of the period which Mr. Pickwick had assigned
       as the duration of the stay at Bath passed over without the
       occurrence of anything material. Trinity term commenced. On the
       expiration of its first week, Mr. Pickwick and his friends returned
       to London; and the former gentleman, attended of course by Sam,
       straightway repaired to his old quarters at the George and Vulture.
       On the third morning after their arrival, just as all the clocks in
       the city were striking nine individually, and somewhere about
       nine hundred and ninety-nine collectively, Sam was taking the air
       in George Yard, when a queer sort of fresh-painted vehicle drove
       up, out of which there jumped with great agility, throwing the
       reins to a stout man who sat beside him, a queer sort of gentleman,
       who seemed made for the vehicle, and the vehicle for him.
       The vehicle was not exactly a gig, neither was it a stanhope. It
       was not what is currently denominated a dog-cart, neither was it
       a taxed cart, nor a chaise-cart, nor a guillotined cabriolet; and
       yet it had something of the character of each and every of these
       machines. It was painted a bright yellow, with the shafts and
       wheels picked out in black; and the driver sat in the orthodox
       sporting style, on cushions piled about two feet above the rail.
       The horse was a bay, a well-looking animal enough; but with
       something of a flash and dog-fighting air about him, nevertheless,
       which accorded both with the vehicle and his master.
       The master himself was a man of about forty, with black hair,
       and carefully combed whiskers. He was dressed in a particularly
       gorgeous manner, with plenty of articles of jewellery about him--
       all about three sizes larger than those which are usually worn by
       gentlemen--and a rough greatcoat to crown the whole. Into one
       pocket of this greatcoat, he thrust his left hand the moment he
       dismounted, while from the other he drew forth, with his right, a
       very bright and glaring silk handkerchief, with which he whisked
       a speck or two of dust from his boots, and then, crumpling it in
       his hand, swaggered up the court.
       It had not escaped Sam's attention that, when this person
       dismounted, a shabby-looking man in a brown greatcoat shorn
       of divers buttons, who had been previously slinking about, on the
       opposite side of the way, crossed over, and remained stationary
       close by. Having something more than a suspicion of the object
       of the gentleman's visit, Sam preceded him to the George and
       Vulture, and, turning sharp round, planted himself in the Centre
       of the doorway.
       'Now, my fine fellow!' said the man in the rough coat, in an
       imperious tone, attempting at the same time to push his way past.
       'Now, Sir, wot's the matter?' replied Sam, returning the push
       with compound interest.
       'Come, none of this, my man; this won't do with me,' said the
       owner of the rough coat, raising his voice, and turning white.
       'Here, Smouch!'
       'Well, wot's amiss here?' growled the man in the brown coat, who
       had been gradually sneaking up the court during this short dialogue.
       'Only some insolence of this young man's,' said the principal,
       giving Sam another push.
       'Come, none o' this gammon,' growled Smouch, giving him
       another, and a harder one.
       This last push had the effect which it was intended by the
       experienced Mr. Smouch to produce; for while Sam, anxious to
       return the compliment, was grinding that gentleman's body
       against the door-post, the principal crept past, and made his way
       to the bar, whither Sam, after bandying a few epithetical remarks
       with Mr. Smouch, followed at once.
       'Good-morning, my dear,' said the principal, addressing the
       young lady at the bar, with Botany Bay ease, and New South
       Wales gentility; 'which is Mr. Pickwick's room, my dear?'
       'Show him up,' said the barmaid to a waiter, without deigning
       another look at the exquisite, in reply to his inquiry.
       The waiter led the way upstairs as he was desired, and the man
       in the rough coat followed, with Sam behind him, who, in his
       progress up the staircase, indulged in sundry gestures indicative
       of supreme contempt and defiance, to the unspeakable gratification
       of the servants and other lookers-on. Mr. Smouch, who was
       troubled with a hoarse cough, remained below, and expectorated
       in the passage.
       Mr. Pickwick was fast asleep in bed, when his early visitor,
       followed by Sam, entered the room. The noise they made, in so
       doing, awoke him.
       'Shaving-water, Sam,' said Mr. Pickwick, from within the curtains.
       'Shave you directly, Mr. Pickwick,' said the visitor, drawing
       one of them back from the bed's head. 'I've got an execution
       against you, at the suit of Bardell.--Here's the warrant.--
       Common Pleas.--Here's my card. I suppose you'll come over to
       my house.' Giving Mr. Pickwick a friendly tap on the shoulder,
       the sheriff's officer (for such he was) threw his card on the
       counterpane, and pulled a gold toothpick from his waistcoat pocket.
       'Namby's the name,' said the sheriff's deputy, as Mr. Pickwick
       took his spectacles from under the pillow, and put them on, to
       read the card. 'Namby, Bell Alley, Coleman Street.'
       At this point, Sam Weller, who had had his eyes fixed hitherto
       on Mr. Namby's shining beaver, interfered.
       'Are you a Quaker?' said Sam.
       'I'll let you know I am, before I've done with you,' replied the
       indignant officer. 'I'll teach you manners, my fine fellow, one of
       these fine mornings.'
       'Thank'ee,' said Sam. 'I'll do the same to you. Take your hat
       off.' With this, Mr. Weller, in the most dexterous manner,
       knocked Mr. Namby's hat to the other side of the room, with
       such violence, that he had very nearly caused him to swallow the
       gold toothpick into the bargain.
       'Observe this, Mr. Pickwick,' said the disconcerted officer,
       gasping for breath. 'I've been assaulted in the execution of my
       dooty by your servant in your chamber. I'm in bodily fear. I call
       you to witness this.'
       'Don't witness nothin', Sir,' interposed Sam. 'Shut your eyes
       up tight, Sir. I'd pitch him out o' winder, only he couldn't fall far
       enough, 'cause o' the leads outside.'
       'Sam,' said Mr. Pickwick, in an angry voice, as his attendant
       made various demonstrations of hostilities, 'if you say another
       word, or offer the slightest interference with this person, I
       discharge you that instant.'
       'But, Sir!' said Sam.
       'Hold your tongue,' interposed Mr. Pickwick. 'Take that hat
       up again.'
       But this Sam flatly and positively refused to do; and, after he
       had been severely reprimanded by his master, the officer, being
       in a hurry, condescended to pick it up himself, venting a great
       variety of threats against Sam meanwhile, which that gentleman
       received with perfect composure, merely observing that if Mr.
       Namby would have the goodness to put his hat on again, he
       would knock it into the latter end of next week. Mr. Namby,
       perhaps thinking that such a process might be productive of
       inconvenience to himself, declined to offer the temptation, and,
       soon after, called up Smouch. Having informed him that the
       capture was made, and that he was to wait for the prisoner until
       he should have finished dressing, Namby then swaggered out, and
       drove away. Smouch, requesting Mr. Pickwick in a surly manner
       'to be as alive as he could, for it was a busy time,' drew up a chair
       by the door and sat there, until he had finished dressing. Sam was
       then despatched for a hackney-coach, and in it the triumvirate
       proceeded to Coleman Street. It was fortunate the distance was
       short; for Mr. Smouch, besides possessing no very enchanting
       conversational powers, was rendered a decidedly unpleasant
       companion in a limited space, by the physical weakness to which
       we have elsewhere adverted.
       The coach having turned into a very narrow and dark street,
       stopped before a house with iron bars to all the windows; the
       door-posts of which were graced by the name and title of
       'Namby, Officer to the Sheriffs of London'; the inner gate having
       been opened by a gentleman who might have passed for a
       neglected twin-brother of Mr. Smouch, and who was endowed
       with a large key for the purpose, Mr. Pickwick was shown into
       the 'coffee-room.'
       This coffee-room was a front parlour, the principal features of
       which were fresh sand and stale tobacco smoke. Mr. Pickwick
       bowed to the three persons who were seated in it when he
       entered; and having despatched Sam for Perker, withdrew into
       an obscure corner, and looked thence with some curiosity upon
       his new companions.
       One of these was a mere boy of nineteen or twenty, who,
       though it was yet barely ten o'clock, was drinking gin-and-water,
       and smoking a cigar--amusements to which, judging from his
       inflamed countenance, he had devoted himself pretty constantly
       for the last year or two of his life. Opposite him, engaged in
       stirring the fire with the toe of his right boot, was a coarse,
       vulgar young man of about thirty, with a sallow face and harsh
       voice; evidently possessed of that knowledge of the world, and
       captivating freedom of manner, which is to be acquired in
       public-house parlours, and at low billiard tables. The third
       tenant of the apartment was a middle-aged man in a very old suit
       of black, who looked pale and haggard, and paced up and down
       the room incessantly; stopping, now and then, to look with
       great anxiety out of the window as if he expected somebody, and
       then resuming his walk.
       'You'd better have the loan of my razor this morning, Mr.
       Ayresleigh,' said the man who was stirring the fire, tipping the
       wink to his friend the boy.
       'Thank you, no, I shan't want it; I expect I shall be out, in the
       course of an hour or so,' replied the other in a hurried manner.
       Then, walking again up to the window, and once more returning
       disappointed, he sighed deeply, and left the room; upon which
       the other two burst into a loud laugh.
       'Well, I never saw such a game as that,' said the gentleman
       who had offered the razor, whose name appeared to be Price.
       'Never!' Mr. Price confirmed the assertion with an oath, and
       then laughed again, when of course the boy (who thought his
       companion one of the most dashing fellows alive) laughed also.
       'You'd hardly think, would you now,' said Price, turning
       towards Mr. Pickwick, 'that that chap's been here a week
       yesterday, and never once shaved himself yet, because he feels so
       certain he's going out in half an hour's time, thinks he may as
       well put it off till he gets home?'
       'Poor man!' said Mr. Pickwick. 'Are his chances of getting out
       of his difficulties really so great?'
       'Chances be d--d,' replied Price; 'he hasn't half the ghost of
       one. I wouldn't give THAT for his chance of walking about the
       streets this time ten years.' With this, Mr. Price snapped his
       fingers contemptuously, and rang the bell.
       'Give me a sheet of paper, Crookey,' said Mr. Price to the
       attendant, who in dress and general appearance looked something
       between a bankrupt glazier, and a drover in a state of
       insolvency; 'and a glass of brandy-and-water, Crookey, d'ye
       hear? I'm going to write to my father, and I must have a
       stimulant, or I shan't be able to pitch it strong enough into the
       old boy.' At this facetious speech, the young boy, it is almost
       needless to say, was fairly convulsed.
       'That's right,' said Mr. Price. 'Never say die. All fun, ain't it?'
       'Prime!' said the young gentleman.
       'You've got some spirit about you, you have,' said Price.
       'You've seen something of life.'
       'I rather think I have!' replied the boy. He had looked at it
       through the dirty panes of glass in a bar door.
       Mr. Pickwick, feeling not a little disgusted with this dialogue,
       as well as with the air and manner of the two beings by whom it
       had been carried on, was about to inquire whether he could not
       be accommodated with a private sitting-room, when two or three
       strangers of genteel appearance entered, at sight of whom the
       boy threw his cigar into the fire, and whispering to Mr. Price
       that they had come to 'make it all right' for him, joined them at a
       table in the farther end of the room.
       It would appear, however, that matters were not going to be
       made all right quite so speedily as the young gentleman anticipated;
       for a very long conversation ensued, of which Mr.
       Pickwick could not avoid hearing certain angry fragments
       regarding dissolute conduct, and repeated forgiveness. At last,
       there were very distinct allusions made by the oldest gentleman
       of the party to one Whitecross Street, at which the young gentleman,
       notwithstanding his primeness and his spirit, and his
       knowledge of life into the bargain, reclined his head upon the
       table, and howled dismally.
       Very much satisfied with this sudden bringing down of the
       youth's valour, and this effectual lowering of his tone, Mr. Pickwick
       rang the bell, and was shown, at his own request, into a
       private room furnished with a carpet, table, chairs, sideboard and
       sofa, and ornamented with a looking-glass, and various old
       prints. Here he had the advantage of hearing Mrs. Namby's
       performance on a square piano overhead, while the breakfast was
       getting ready; when it came, Mr. Perker came too.
       'Aha, my dear sir,' said the little man, 'nailed at last, eh?
       Come, come, I'm not sorry for it either, because now you'll see
       the absurdity of this conduct. I've noted down the amount of the
       taxed costs and damages for which the ca-sa was issued, and we
       had better settle at once and lose no time. Namby is come home
       by this time, I dare say. What say you, my dear sir? Shall I draw
       a cheque, or will you?' The little man rubbed his hands with
       affected cheerfulness as he said this, but glancing at Mr. Pickwick's
       countenance, could not forbear at the same time casting a
       desponding look towards Sam Weller.
       'Perker,' said Mr. Pickwick, 'let me hear no more of this, I beg.
       I see no advantage in staying here, so I Shall go to prison to-night.'
       'You can't go to Whitecross Street, my dear Sir,' said Perker.
       'Impossible! There are sixty beds in a ward; and the bolt's on,
       sixteen hours out of the four-and-twenty.'
       'I would rather go to some other place of confinement if I can,'
       said Mr. Pickwick. 'If not, I must make the best I can of that.'
       'You can go to the Fleet, my dear Sir, if you're determined to
       go somewhere,' said Perker.
       'That'll do,' said Mr. Pickwick. 'I'll go there directly I have
       finished my breakfast.'
       'Stop, stop, my dear Sir; not the least occasion for being in such
       a violent hurry to get into a place that most other men are as
       eager to get out of,' said the good-natured little attorney. 'We
       must have a habeas-corpus. There'll be no judge at chambers till
       four o'clock this afternoon. You must wait till then.'
       'Very good,' said Mr. Pickwick, with unmoved patience.
       'Then we will have a chop here, at two. See about it, Sam, and
       tell them to be punctual.'
       Mr. Pickwick remaining firm, despite all the remonstrances and
       arguments of Perker, the chops appeared and disappeared in due
       course; he was then put into another hackney coach, and carried
       off to Chancery Lane, after waiting half an hour or so for Mr.
       Namby, who had a select dinner-party and could on no account
       be disturbed before.
       There were two judges in attendance at Serjeant's Inn--one
       King's Bench, and one Common Pleas--and a great deal of
       business appeared to be transacting before them, if the number
       of lawyer's clerks who were hurrying in and out with bundles of
       papers, afforded any test. When they reached the low archway
       which forms the entrance to the inn, Perker was detained a few
       moments parlaying with the coachman about the fare and the
       change; and Mr. Pickwick, stepping to one side to be out of the
       way of the stream of people that were pouring in and out, looked
       about him with some curiosity.
       The people that attracted his attention most, were three or four
       men of shabby-genteel appearance, who touched their hats to
       many of the attorneys who passed, and seemed to have some
       business there, the nature of which Mr. Pickwick could not
       divine. They were curious-looking fellows. One was a slim and
       rather lame man in rusty black, and a white neckerchief; another
       was a stout, burly person, dressed in the same apparel, with a
       great reddish-black cloth round his neck; a third was a little
       weazen, drunken-looking body, with a pimply face. They were
       loitering about, with their hands behind them, and now and then
       with an anxious countenance whispered something in the ear of
       some of the gentlemen with papers, as they hurried by. Mr.
       Pickwick remembered to have very often observed them lounging
       under the archway when he had been walking past; and his
       curiosity was quite excited to know to what branch of the profession
       these dingy-looking loungers could possibly belong.
       He was about to propound the question to Namby, who kept
       close beside him, sucking a large gold ring on his little finger,
       when Perker bustled up, and observing that there was no time to
       lose, led the way into the inn. As Mr. Pickwick followed, the
       lame man stepped up to him, and civilly touching his hat, held
       out a written card, which Mr. Pickwick, not wishing to hurt the
       man's feelings by refusing, courteously accepted and deposited in
       his waistcoat pocket.
       'Now,' said Perker, turning round before he entered one of the
       offices, to see that his companions were close behind him. 'In
       here, my dear sir. Hallo, what do you want?'
       This last question was addressed to the lame man, who,
       unobserved by Mr. Pickwick, made one of the party. In reply to it,
       the lame man touched his hat again, with all imaginable politeness,
       and motioned towards Mr. Pickwick.
       'No, no,' said Perker, with a smile. 'We don't want you, my
       dear friend, we don't want you.'
       'I beg your pardon, sir,' said the lame man. 'The gentleman
       took my card. I hope you will employ me, sir. The gentleman
       nodded to me. I'll be judged by the gentleman himself. You
       nodded to me, sir?'
       'Pooh, pooh, nonsense. You didn't nod to anybody, Pickwick?
       A mistake, a mistake,' said Perker.
       'The gentleman handed me his card,' replied Mr. Pickwick,
       producing it from his waistcoat pocket. 'I accepted it, as the
       gentleman seemed to wish it--in fact I had some curiosity to look
       at it when I should be at leisure. I--'
       The little attorney burst into a loud laugh, and returning the
       card to the lame man, informing him it was all a mistake,
       whispered to Mr. Pickwick as the man turned away in dudgeon,
       that he was only a bail.
       'A what!' exclaimed Mr. Pickwick.
       'A bail,' replied Perker.
       'A bail!'
       'Yes, my dear sir--half a dozen of 'em here. Bail you to any
       amount, and only charge half a crown. Curious trade, isn't it?'
       said Perker, regaling himself with a pinch of snuff.
       'What! Am I to understand that these men earn a livelihood
       by waiting about here, to perjure themselves before the judges of
       the land, at the rate of half a crown a crime?' exclaimed Mr.
       Pickwick, quite aghast at the disclosure.
       'Why, I don't exactly know about perjury, my dear sir,' replied
       the little gentleman. 'Harsh word, my dear sir, very harsh word
       indeed. It's a legal fiction, my dear sir, nothing more.' Saying
       which, the attorney shrugged his shoulders, smiled, took a second
       pinch of snuff, and led the way into the office of the judge's clerk.
       This was a room of specially dirty appearance, with a very low
       ceiling and old panelled walls; and so badly lighted, that although
       it was broad day outside, great tallow candles were burning on
       the desks. At one end, was a door leading to the judge's private
       apartment, round which were congregated a crowd of attorneys
       and managing clerks, who were called in, in the order in which
       their respective appointments stood upon the file. Every time this
       door was opened to let a party out, the next party made a violent
       rush to get in; and, as in addition to the numerous dialogues
       which passed between the gentlemen who were waiting to see the
       judge, a variety of personal squabbles ensued between the greater
       part of those who had seen him, there was as much noise as could
       well be raised in an apartment of such confined dimensions.
       Nor were the conversations of these gentlemen the only sounds
       that broke upon the ear. Standing on a box behind a wooden bar
       at another end of the room was a clerk in spectacles who was
       'taking the affidavits'; large batches of which were, from time to
       time, carried into the private room by another clerk for the
       judge's signature. There were a large number of attorneys' clerks
       to be sworn, and it being a moral impossibility to swear them all
       at once, the struggles of these gentlemen to reach the clerk in
       spectacles, were like those of a crowd to get in at the pit door of a
       theatre when Gracious Majesty honours it with its presence.
       Another functionary, from time to time, exercised his lungs in
       calling over the names of those who had been sworn, for the
       purpose of restoring to them their affidavits after they had been
       signed by the judge, which gave rise to a few more scuffles; and
       all these things going on at the same time, occasioned as much
       bustle as the most active and excitable person could desire to
       behold. There were yet another class of persons--those who were
       waiting to attend summonses their employers had taken out,
       which it was optional to the attorney on the opposite side to
       attend or not--and whose business it was, from time to time, to
       cry out the opposite attorney's name; to make certain that he
       was not in attendance without their knowledge.
       For example. Leaning against the wall, close beside the seat
       Mr. Pickwick had taken, was an office-lad of fourteen, with a
       tenor voice; near him a common-law clerk with a bass one.
       A clerk hurried in with a bundle of papers, and stared about him.
       'Sniggle and Blink,' cried the tenor.
       'Porkin and Snob,' growled the bass.
       'Stumpy and Deacon,' said the new-comer.
       Nobody answered; the next man who came in, was bailed by
       the whole three; and he in his turn shouted for another firm;
       and then somebody else roared in a loud voice for another; and
       so forth.
       All this time, the man in the spectacles was hard at work,
       swearing the clerks; the oath being invariably administered,
       without any effort at punctuation, and usually in the following
       terms:--
       'Take the book in your right hand this is your name and hand-
       writing you swear that the contents of this your affidavit are true
       so help you God a shilling you must get change I haven't got it.'
       'Well, Sam,' said Mr. Pickwick, 'I suppose they are getting the
       HABEAS-CORPUS ready?'
       'Yes,' said Sam, 'and I vish they'd bring out the have-his-
       carcase. It's wery unpleasant keepin' us vaitin' here. I'd ha' got
       half a dozen have-his-carcases ready, pack'd up and all, by this time.'
       What sort of cumbrous and unmanageable machine, Sam
       Weller imagined a habeas-corpus to be, does not appear;
       for Perker, at that moment, walked up and took Mr. Pickwick away.
       The usual forms having been gone through, the body of
       Samuel Pickwick was soon afterwards confided to the custody of
       the tipstaff, to be by him taken to the warden of the Fleet Prison,
       and there detained until the amount of the damages and costs in
       the action of Bardell against Pickwick was fully paid
       and satisfied.
       'And that,' said Mr. Pickwick, laughing, 'will be a very long
       time. Sam, call another hackney-coach. Perker, my dear friend,
       good-bye.'
       'I shall go with you, and see you safe there,' said Perker.
       'Indeed,' replied Mr. Pickwick, 'I would rather go without any
       other attendant than Sam. As soon as I get settled, I will write
       and let you know, and I shall expect you immediately. Until then,
       good-bye.'
       As Mr. Pickwick said this, he got into the coach which had by
       this time arrived, followed by the tipstaff. Sam having stationed
       himself on the box, it rolled away.
       'A most extraordinary man that!' said Perker, as he stopped to
       pull on his gloves.
       'What a bankrupt he'd make, Sir,' observed Mr. Lowten, who
       was standing near. 'How he would bother the commissioners!
       He'd set 'em at defiance if they talked of committing him, Sir.'
       The attorney did not appear very much delighted with his
       clerk's professional estimate of Mr. Pickwick's character, for he
       walked away without deigning any reply.
       The hackney-coach jolted along Fleet Street, as hackney-
       coaches usually do. The horses 'went better', the driver said,
       when they had anything before them (they must have gone at
       a most extraordinary pace when there was nothing), and so
       the vehicle kept behind a cart; when the cart stopped, it stopped;
       and when the cart went on again, it did the same. Mr. Pickwick
       sat opposite the tipstaff; and the tipstaff sat with his hat between
       his knees, whistling a tune, and looking out of the coach window.
       Time performs wonders. By the powerful old gentleman's aid,
       even a hackney-coach gets over half a mile of ground. They
       stopped at length, and Mr. Pickwick alighted at the gate of the Fleet.
       The tipstaff, just looking over his shoulder to see that his
       charge was following close at his heels, preceded Mr. Pickwick
       into the prison; turning to the left, after they had entered, they
       passed through an open door into a lobby, from which a heavy
       gate, opposite to that by which they had entered, and which was
       guarded by a stout turnkey with the key in his hand, led at once
       into the interior of the prison.
       Here they stopped, while the tipstaff delivered his papers; and
       here Mr. Pickwick was apprised that he would remain, until he
       had undergone the ceremony, known to the initiated as 'sitting
       for your portrait.'
       'Sitting for my portrait?' said Mr. Pickwick.
       'Having your likeness taken, sir,' replied the stout turnkey.
       'We're capital hands at likenesses here. Take 'em in no time, and
       always exact. Walk in, sir, and make yourself at home.'
       Mr. Pickwick complied with the invitation, and sat himself
       down; when Mr. Weller, who stationed himself at the back of the
       chair, whispered that the sitting was merely another term for
       undergoing an inspection by the different turnkeys, in order that
       they might know prisoners from visitors.
       'Well, Sam,' said Mr. Pickwick, 'then I wish the artists would
       come. This is rather a public place.'
       'They von't be long, Sir, I des-say,' replied Sam. 'There's a
       Dutch clock, sir.'
       'So I see,' observed Mr. Pickwick.
       'And a bird-cage, sir,' says Sam. 'Veels vithin veels, a prison in
       a prison. Ain't it, Sir?'
       As Mr. Weller made this philosophical remark, Mr. Pickwick
       was aware that his sitting had commenced. The stout turnkey
       having been relieved from the lock, sat down, and looked at him
       carelessly, from time to time, while a long thin man who had
       relieved him, thrust his hands beneath his coat tails, and planting
       himself opposite, took a good long view of him. A third rather
       surly-looking gentleman, who had apparently been disturbed at
       his tea, for he was disposing of the last remnant of a crust and
       butter when he came in, stationed himself close to Mr. Pickwick;
       and, resting his hands on his hips, inspected him narrowly; while
       two others mixed with the group, and studied his features with
       most intent and thoughtful faces. Mr. Pickwick winced a good
       deal under the operation, and appeared to sit very uneasily in his
       chair; but he made no remark to anybody while it was being
       performed, not even to Sam, who reclined upon the back of the
       chair, reflecting, partly on the situation of his master, and partly
       on the great satisfaction it would have afforded him to make a
       fierce assault upon all the turnkeys there assembled, one after the
       other, if it were lawful and peaceable so to do.
       At length the likeness was completed, and Mr. Pickwick was
       informed that he might now proceed into the prison.
       'Where am I to sleep to-night?' inquired Mr. Pickwick.
       'Why, I don't rightly know about to-night,' replied the stout
       turnkey. 'You'll be chummed on somebody to-morrow, and then
       you'll be all snug and comfortable. The first night's generally
       rather unsettled, but you'll be set all squares to-morrow.'
       After some discussion, it was discovered that one of the turnkeys
       had a bed to let, which Mr. Pickwick could have for that night.
       He gladly agreed to hire it.
       'If you'll come with me, I'll show it you at once,' said the man.
       'It ain't a large 'un; but it's an out-and-outer to sleep in. This
       way, sir.'
       They passed through the inner gate, and descended a short flight
       of steps. The key was turned after them; and Mr. Pickwick found
       himself, for the first time in his life, within the walls of a debtors'
       prison. _
用户中心

本站图书检索

本书目录

Chapter 1. The Pickwickians
Chapter 2. The first Day's Journey, and the first Evening's Adventures; with their Consequences
Chapter 3. A new Acquaintance--The Stroller's Tale--A disagreeable Interruption, and an unpleasant Encounter
Chapter 4. A Field Day and Bivouac--More new Friends--An Invitation to the Country
Chapter 5. A short one--Showing, among other Matters, how Mr. Pickwick undertook to drive, and Mr. Winkle to ride, and how they both did it
Chapter 6. An old-fashioned Card-party--The Clergyman's verses--The Story of the Convict's Return
Chapter 7. How Mr. Winkle, instead of shooting at the Pigeon and killing the Crow, shot at the Crow and wounded the Pigeon; how Dingley Dell Cricket Club played All-Muggleton, and how All-Muggleton dined at the Dingley Dell Expense
Chapter 8. Strongly illustrative of the Position, that the Course of True Love is not a Railway
Chapter 9. A Discovery and a Chase
Chapter 10. Clearing up all Doubts (if any existed) of the Disinterestedness of Mr. A. Jingle's Character
Chapter 11. Involving another Journey, and an Antiquarian Discovery; Recording Mr. Pickwick's Determination to be present at an Election; and containing a Manuscript of the old Clergyman's
Chapter 12. Descriptive of a very important Proceeding on the Part of Mr. Pickwick; no less an Epoch in his Life, than in this History
Chapter 13. Some Account of Eatanswill; of the State of Parties therein; and of the Election of a Member to serve in Parliament for that ancient, loyal, and patriotic Borough
Chapter 14. Comprising a brief Description of the Company at the Peacock assembled; and a Tale told by a Bagman
Chapter 15. In which is given a faithful Portraiture of two distinguished Persons; and an accurate Description of a public Breakfast in their House: which public Breakfast leads to the Recognition of an old Acquaintance
Chapter 16. Too full of Adventure to be briefly described
Chapter 17. Showing that an Attack of Rheumatism, in some Cases, acts as a Quickener to inventive Genius
Chapter 18. Briefly illustrative of two Points; first, the Power of Hysterics, and, secondly, the Force of Circumstances
Chapter 19. A pleasant Day with an unpleasant Termination
Chapter 20. Showing how Dodson and Fogg were Men of Business, their Clerks Men of pleasure;how an affecting Interview between Mr. Weller and his long-lost Parent; what Choice Spirits assembled at the Magpie and Stump
Chapter 21. In which the old Man launches forth into his favourite Theme, and relates a Story about a queer Client
Chapter 22. Mr. Pickwick journeys to Ipswich and meets with a romantic Adventure with a middle-aged Lady in yellow Curl-papers
Chapter 23. In which Mr. Samuel Weller begins to devote his Energies to the Return Match between himself and Mr. Trotter
Chapter 24. Wherein Mr. Peter Magnus grows jealous, and the middle-aged Lady apprehensive, which brings the Pickwickians within the Grasp of the Law
Chapter 25. Showing, among a Variety of pleasant Matters, how majestic and impartial Mr. Nupkins was; and how Mr. Weller returned Mr. Job Trotter's Shuttlecock as heavily as it came--With another Matter, which will be found in its Place
Chapter 26. Which contains a brief Account of the Progress of the Action of Bardell against Pickwick
Chapter 27. Samuel Weller makes a Pilgrimage to Dorking, and beholds his Mother-in-law
Chapter 28. A good-humoured Christmas (Pickwick Papers)
Chapter 29. The Story of the Goblins who stole a Sexton
Chapter 30. How the Pickwickians made and cultivated the Acquaintance of a Couple of nice young Men belonging to one of the liberal Professions; how they disported themselves on the Ice; and how their Visit came to a Conclusion
Chapter 31. Which is all about the Law, and sundry Great Authorities learned therein
Chapter 32. Describes, far more fully than the Court Newsman ever did, a Bachelor's Party, given by Mr. Bob Sawyer at his Lodgings in the Borough
Chapter 33. Mr. Weller the elder delivers some Critical Sentiments respecting Literary Composition; and, assisted by his Son Samuel, pays a small Instalment of Retaliation to the Account of the Reverend Gentleman with the Red Nose
Chapter 34. Is wholly devoted to a full and faithful Report of the memorable Trial of Bardell against Pickwick
Chapter 35. In which Mr. Pickwick thinks he had better go to Bath; and goes accordingly
Chapter 36. The chief Features of which will be found to be an authentic Version of the Legend of Prince Bladud, and a most extraordinary Calamity that befell Mr. Winkle
Chapter 37. Honourably accounts for Mr. Weller's Absence, by describing a Soiree to which he was invited and went; also relates how he was intrusted by Mr. Pickwick with a Private Mission of Delicacy and Importance
Chapter 38. How Mr. Winkle, when he stepped out of the Frying-pan, walked gently and comfortably into the Fire
Chapter 39. Mr. Samuel Weller, being intrusted with a Mission of Love, proceeds to execute it; with what Success will hereinafter appear
Chapter 40. Introduces Mr. Pickwick to a new and not uninteresting Scene in the great Drama of Life
Chapter 41. Whatt befell Mr. Pickwick when he got into the Fleet; what Prisoners he saw there; and how he passed the Night
Chapter 42. Illustrative, like the preceding one, of the old Proverb, that Adversity brings a Man acquainted with strange Bedfellows--Likewise containing Mr. Pickwick's extraordinary and startling Announcement to Mr. Samuel Weller
Chapter 43. Showing how Mr. Samuel Weller got into Difficulties
Chapter 44. Treats of divers little Matters which occurred in the Fleet, and of Mr. Winkle's mysterious Behaviour; and shows how the poor Chancery Prisoner obtained his Release at last
Chapter 45. Descriptive of an affecting Interview between Mr. Samuel Weller and a Family Party. Mr. Pickwick makes a Tour of the diminutive World he inhabits, and resolves to mix with it, in Future, as little as possible
Chapter 46. Records a touching Act of delicate Feeling not unmixed with Pleasantry, achieved and performed by Messrs. Dodson and Fogg
Chapter 47. Is chiefly devoted to Matters of Business, and the temporal Advantage of Dodson and Fogg-- Mr. Winkle reappears under extraordinary Circumstances--Mr. Pickwick's Benevolence proves stronger than his Obstinacy
Chapter 48. Relates how Mr. Pickwick, with the Assistance of Samuel Weller, essayed to soften the Heart of Mr. Benjamin Allen, and to mollify the Wrath of Mr. Robert Sawyer
Chapter 49. Containing the Story of the Bagman's Uncle
Chapter 50. How Mr. Pickwick sped upon his Mission, and how he was reinforced in the Outset by a most unexpected Auxiliary
Chapter 51. In which Mr. Pickwick encounters an old Acquaintance--To which fortunate Circumstance the Reader is mainly indebted for Matter of thrilling Interest herein set down, concerning two great Public Men of Might and Power
Chapter 52. Involving a serious Change in the Weller Family, and the untimely Downfall of Mr. Stiggins
Chapter 53. Comprising the final Exit of Mr. Jingle and Job Trotter, with a great Morning of business in Gray's Inn Square--Concluding with a Double Knock at Mr. Perker's Door
Chapter 54. Containing some Particulars relative to the Double Knock, and other Matters: among which certain interesting Disclosures relative to Mr. Snodgrass and a Young Lady are by no Means irrelevant to this History
Chapter 55. Mr. Solomon Pell, assisted by a Select Committee of Coachmen, arranges the affairs of the elder Mr. Weller
Chapter 56. An important Conference takes place between Mr. Pickwick and Samuel Weller, at which his Parent assists--An old Gentleman in a snuff-coloured Suit arrives unexpectedly
Chapter 57. In which the Pickwick Club is finally dissolved, and everything concluded to the Satisfaction of Everybody