'You astonish me, Sir,' said Mr Leo Hunter. 'It created an immense

sensation. It was signed with an ‘L’ and eight stars, and appeared

originally in a lady's magazine. It commenced -

‘Can I view thee panting, lying On thy stomach, without sighing; Can

I unmoved see thee dying On a log Expiring frog!’' 'Beautiful!' said Mr

Pickwick.

Fine,' said Mr Leo Hunter; 'so simple.'

Very,' said Mr Pickwick.

The next verse is still more touching. Shall I repeat it?'

If you please,' said Mr Pickwick.

It runs thus,' said the grave man, still more gravely.

‘Say, have fiends in shape of boys, With wild halloo, and brutal noise,

Hunted thee from marshy joys, With a dog, Expiring frog!’'

'Finely expressed,' said Mr Pickwick. 'All point, Sir,' said Mr Leo

Hunter; 'but you shall hear Mrs. Leo Hunter repeat it. She can do

justice to it, Sir. She will repeat it, in character, Sir, to-morrow

morning.'

In character!'

As Minerva. But I forgot - it's a fancy-dress DEJEUNE.'

Dear me,' said Mr Pickwick, glancing at his own figure - 'I can't

possibly - '

Can't, sir; can't!' exclaimed Mr Leo Hunter. 'Solomon Lucas, the Jew

in the High Street, has thousands of fancy- dresses. Consider, Sir,

how many appropriate characters are open for your selection. Plato,

Zeno, Epicurus, Pythagoras - all founders of clubs.'

'I know that,' said Mr Pickwick; 'but as I cannot put myself in

competition with those great men, I cannot presume to wear their

dresses.'

The grave man considered deeply, for a few seconds, and then said -

'On reflection, Sir, I don't know whether it would not afford Mrs. Leo

Hunter greater pleasure, if her guests saw a gentleman of your

celebrity in his own costume, rather than in an assumed one. I may

The Pickwick Papers