The stranger took Mr Winkle's measure with his eye, and that feature

glistened with satisfaction as he said, 'Just the thing.'

Mr Tupman looked round him. The wine, which had exerted its

somniferous influence over Mr Snodgrass and Mr Winkle, had stolen

upon the senses of Mr Pickwick. That gentleman had gradually passed

through the various stages which precede the lethargy produced by

dinner, and its consequences. He had undergone the ordinary

transitions from the height of conviviality to the depth of misery, and

from the depth of misery to the height of conviviality. Like a gas-lamp

in the street, with the wind in the pipe, he had exhibited for a moment

an unnatural brilliancy, then sank so low as to be scarcely

discernible; after a short interval, he had burst out again, to enlighten

for a moment; then flickered with an uncertain, staggering sort of

light, and then gone out altogether. His head was sunk upon his

bosom, and perpetual snoring, with a partial choke occasionally, were

the only audible indications of the great man's presence.

The temptation to be present at the ball, and to form his first

impressions of the beauty of the Kentish ladies, was strong upon Mr

Tupman. The temptation to take the stranger with him was equally

great. He was wholly unacquainted with the place and its inhabitants,

and the stranger seemed to possess as great a knowledge of both as if

he had lived there from his infancy. Mr Winkle was asleep, and Mr

Tupman had had sufficient experience in such matters to know that

the moment he awoke he would, in the ordinary course of nature, roll

heavily to bed. He was undecided. 'Fill your glass, and pass the wine,'

said the indefatigable visitor.

Mr Tupman did as he was requested; and the additional stimulus of

the last glass settled his determination.

Winkle's bedroom is inside mine,' said Mr Tupman; 'I couldn't make

him understand what I wanted, if I woke him now, but I know he has

a dress-suit in a carpet bag; and supposing you wore it to the ball,

and took it off when we returned, I could replace it without troubling

him at all about the matter.'

'Capital,' said the stranger, 'famous plan - damned odd situation -

fourteen coats in the packing-cases, and obliged to wear another

man's - very good notion, that - very.'

We must purchase our tickets,' said Mr Tupman.

Not worth while splitting a guinea,' said the stranger, 'toss who shall

pay for both - I call; you spin - first time - woman - woman -

bewitching woman,' and down came the sovereign with the dragon

(

called by courtesy a woman) uppermost.

The Pickwick Papers