Gentleman in the coffee-room, sir,' replied the Boots, as Mr Winkle

opened the door and confronted him; 'gentleman says he'll not detain

you a moment, Sir, but he can take no denial.'

Very odd!' said Mr Winkle; 'I'll be down directly.'

He hurriedly wrapped himself in a travelling-shawl and dressing-

gown, and proceeded downstairs. An old woman and a couple of

waiters were cleaning the coffee-room, and an officer in undress

uniform was looking out of the window. He turned round as Mr

Winkle entered, and made a stiff inclination of the head. Having

ordered the attendants to retire, and closed the door very carefully, he

said, 'Mr Winkle, I presume?'

My name is Winkle, sir.'

You will not be surprised, sir, when I inform you that I have called

here this morning on behalf of my friend, Doctor Slammer, of the

7th.'

Doctor Slammer!' said Mr Winkle.

Doctor Slammer. He begged me to express his opinion that your

conduct of last evening was of a description which no gentleman could

endure; and' (he added) 'which no one gentleman would pursue

towards another.'

Mr Winkle's astonishment was too real, and too evident, to escape the

observation of Doctor Slammer's friend; he therefore proceeded - 'My

friend, Doctor Slammer, requested me to add, that he was firmly

persuaded you were intoxicated during a portion of the evening, and

possibly unconscious of the extent of the insult you were guilty of. He

commissioned me to say, that should this be pleaded as an excuse for

your behaviour, he will consent to accept a written apology, to be

penned by you, from my dictation.'

A written apology!' repeated Mr Winkle, in the most emphatic tone of

amazement possible.

'Of course you know the alternative,' replied the visitor coolly.

Were you intrusted with this message to me by name?' inquired Mr

Winkle, whose intellects were hopelessly confused by this

extraordinary conversation.

I was not present myself,' replied the visitor, 'and in consequence of

your firm refusal to give your card to Doctor Slammer, I was desired

by that gentleman to identify the wearer of a very uncommon coat - a

The Pickwick Papers