No, no - I'll do it - shan't be long - back in no time,' replied Jingle.

With these words he disappeared among the crowd.

Will you allow me to ask you, ma'am,' said the excited Mr Pickwick,

rising from his seat, 'who that young man is, and where he resides?'

'He is a gentleman of fortune, Mr Pickwick,' said Mrs. Leo Hunter, 'to

whom I very much want to introduce you. The count will be delighted

with him.'

Yes, yes,' said Mr Pickwick hastily. 'His residence - '

Is at present at the Angel at Bury.'

At Bury?'

At Bury St. Edmunds, not many miles from here. But dear me, Mr

Pickwick, you are not going to leave us; surely Mr Pickwick you

cannot think of going so soon?'

But long before Mrs. Leo Hunter had finished speaking, Mr Pickwick

had plunged through the throng, and reached the garden, whither he

was shortly afterwards joined by Mr Tupman, who had followed his

friend closely.

'It's of no use,' said Mr Tupman. 'He has gone.'

'I know it,' said Mr Pickwick, 'and I will follow him.'

'Follow him! Where?' inquired Mr Tupman.

To the Angel at Bury,' replied Mr Pickwick, speaking very quickly.

How do we know whom he is deceiving there? He deceived a worthy

man once, and we were the innocent cause. He shall not do it again, if

I can help it; I'll expose him! Sam! Where's my servant?'

Here you are, Sir,' said Mr Weller, emerging from a sequestered spot,

where he had been engaged in discussing a bottle of Madeira, which

he had abstracted from the breakfast- table an hour or two before.

Here's your servant, Sir. Proud o' the title, as the living skellinton

said, ven they show'd him.'

'Follow me instantly,' said Mr Pickwick. 'Tupman, if I stay at Bury, you

can join me there, when I write. Till then, good-bye!'

Remonstrances were useless. Mr Pickwick was roused, and his mind

was made up. Mr Tupman returned to his companions; and in

another hour had drowned all present recollection of Mr Alfred Jingle,

The Pickwick Papers