'Ah, so it is,' said Mr Pickwick, looking at his watch. 'You are right,

Sam.'

And if I might adwise, Sir,' added Mr Weller, 'I'd just have a good

night's rest arterwards, and not begin inquiring arter this here deep

un till the mornin'. There's nothin' so refreshen' as sleep, sir, as the

servant girl said afore she drank the egg-cupful of laudanum.'

I think you are right, Sam,' said Mr Pickwick. 'But I must first

ascertain that he is in the house, and not likely to go away.'

Leave that to me, Sir,' said Sam. 'Let me order you a snug little

dinner, and make my inquiries below while it's a-getting ready; I could

worm ev'ry secret out O' the boots's heart, in five minutes, Sir.' 'Do so,'

said Mr Pickwick; and Mr Weller at once retired.

In half an hour, Mr Pickwick was seated at a very satisfactory dinner;

and in three-quarters Mr Weller returned with the intelligence that Mr

Charles Fitz-Marshall had ordered his private room to be retained for

him, until further notice. He was going to spend the evening at some

private house in the neighbourhood, had ordered the boots to sit up

until his return, and had taken his servant with him.

Now, sir,' argued Mr Weller, when he had concluded his report, 'if I

can get a talk with this here servant in the mornin', he'll tell me all his

master's concerns.'

How do you know that?' interposed Mr Pickwick.

Bless your heart, sir, servants always do,' replied Mr Weller.

Oh, ah, I forgot that,' said Mr Pickwick. 'Well.'

Then you can arrange what's best to be done, sir, and we can act

accordingly.'

As it appeared that this was the best arrangement that could be

made, it was finally agreed upon. Mr Weller, by his master's

permission, retired to spend the evening in his own way; and was

shortly afterwards elected, by the unanimous voice of the assembled

company, into the taproom chair, in which honourable post he

acquitted himself so much to the satisfaction of the gentlemen-

frequenters, that their roars of laughter and approbation penetrated to

Mr Pickwick's bedroom, and shortened the term of his natural rest by

at least three hours.

Early on the ensuing morning, Mr Weller was dispelling all the

feverish remains of the previous evening's conviviality, through the

The Pickwick Papers