Here he went through the not very difficult process of winking upon

the company with his solitary eye, to the enthusiastic delight of an

elderly personage with a dirty face and a clay pipe.

Rum creeters is women,' said the dirty-faced man, after a pause.

Ah! no mistake about that,' said a very red-faced man, behind a cigar.

After this little bit of philosophy there was another pause.

There's rummer things than women in this world though, mind you,'

said the man with the black eye, slowly filling a large Dutch pipe, with

a most capacious bowl.

Are you married?' inquired the dirty-faced man.

Can't say I am.'

I thought not.' Here the dirty-faced man fell into ecstasies of mirth at

his own retort, in which he was joined by a man of bland voice and

placid countenance, who always made it a point to agree with

everybody.

'Women, after all, gentlemen,' said the enthusiastic Mr Snodgrass, 'are

the great props and comforts of our existence.'

So they are,' said the placid gentleman.

When they're in a good humour,' interposed the dirty-faced man.

And that's very true,' said the placid one.

I repudiate that qualification,' said Mr Snodgrass, whose thoughts

were fast reverting to Emily Wardle. 'I repudiate it with disdain - with

indignation. Show me the man who says anything against women, as

women, and I boldly declare he is not a man.' And Mr Snodgrass took

his cigar from his mouth, and struck the table violently with his

clenched fist.

'That's good sound argument,' said the placid man.

Containing a position which I deny,' interrupted he of the dirty

countenance.

And there's certainly a very great deal of truth in what you observe

too, Sir,' said the placid gentleman.

The Pickwick Papers