'Magnificent ruin!' said Mr Augustus Snodgrass, with all the poetic

fervour that distinguished him, when they came in sight of the fine old

castle.

What a sight for an antiquarian!' were the very words which fell from

Mr Pickwick's mouth, as he applied his telescope to his eye.

'Ah! fine place,' said the stranger, 'glorious pile - frowning walls -

tottering arches - dark nooks - crumbling staircases - old cathedral

too - earthy smell - pilgrims' feet wore away the old steps - little Saxon

doors - confessionals like money-takers' boxes at theatres - queer

customers those monks - popes, and lord treasurers, and all sorts of

old fellows, with great red faces, and broken noses, turning up every

day - buff jerkins too - match-locks - sarcophagus - fine place - old

legends too - strange stories: capital;' and the stranger continued to

soliloquise until they reached the Bull Inn, in the High Street, where

the coach stopped.

Do you remain here, Sir?' inquired Mr Nathaniel Winkle.

Here - not I - but you'd better - good house - nice beds - Wright's

next house, dear - very dear - half-a-crown in the bill if you look at the

waiter - charge you more if you dine at a friend's than they would if

you dined in the coffee-room - rum fellows - very.'

Mr Winkle turned to Mr Pickwick, and murmured a few words; a

whisper passed from Mr Pickwick to Mr Snodgrass, from Mr

Snodgrass to Mr Tupman, and nods of assent were exchanged. Mr

Pickwick addressed the stranger.

You rendered us a very important service this morning, sir,' said he,

will you allow us to offer a slight mark of our gratitude by begging the

favour of your company at dinner?'

Great pleasure - not presume to dictate, but broiled fowl and

mushrooms - capital thing! What time?'

'Let me see,' replied Mr Pickwick, referring to his watch, 'it is now

nearly three. Shall we say five?'

'Suit me excellently,' said the stranger, 'five precisely - till then - care

of yourselves;' and lifting the pinched-up hat a few inches from his

head, and carelessly replacing it very much on one side, the stranger,

with half the brown paper parcel sticking out of his pocket, walked

briskly up the yard, and turned into the High Street.

'Evidently a traveller in many countries, and a close observer of men

and things,' said Mr Pickwick.

The Pickwick Papers