bright blue dress-coat, with a gilt button displaying a bust, and the

letters ‘P. C.’'

Mr Winkle actually staggered with astonishment as he heard his own

costume thus minutely described. Doctor Slammer's friend proceeded:

'From the inquiries I made at the bar, just now, I was convinced that

the owner of the coat in question arrived here, with three gentlemen,

yesterday afternoon. I immediately sent up to the gentleman who was

described as appearing the head of the party, and he at once referred

me to you.'

If the principal tower of Rochester Castle had suddenly walked from

its foundation, and stationed itself opposite the coffee-room window,

Mr Winkle's surprise would have been as nothing compared with the

profound astonishment with which he had heard this address. His

first impression was that his coat had been stolen. 'Will you allow me

to detain you one moment?' said he.

'Certainly,' replied the unwelcome visitor.

Mr Winkle ran hastily upstairs, and with a trembling hand opened the

bag. There was the coat in its usual place, but exhibiting, on a close

inspection, evident tokens of having been worn on the preceding

night.

'It must be so,' said Mr Winkle, letting the coat fall from his hands. 'I

took too much wine after dinner, and have a very vague recollection of

walking about the streets, and smoking a cigar afterwards. The fact is,

I was very drunk; - I must have changed my coat - gone somewhere -

and insulted somebody - I have no doubt of it; and this message is the

terrible consequence.' Saying which, Mr Winkle retraced his steps in

the direction of the coffee-room, with the gloomy and dreadful resolve

of accepting the challenge of the warlike Doctor Slammer, and abiding

by the worst consequences that might ensue.

To this determination Mr Winkle was urged by a variety of

considerations, the first of which was his reputation with the club. He

had always been looked up to as a high authority on all matters of

amusement and dexterity, whether offensive, defensive, or inoffensive;

and if, on this very first occasion of being put to the test, he shrunk

back from the trial, beneath his leader's eye, his name and standing

were lost for ever. Besides, he remembered to have heard it frequently

surmised by the uninitiated in such matters that by an understood

arrangement between the seconds, the pistols were seldom loaded

with ball; and, furthermore, he reflected that if he applied to Mr

Snodgrass to act as his second, and depicted the danger in glowing

terms, that gentleman might possibly communicate the intelligence to

Mr Pickwick, who would certainly lose no time in transmitting it to the

The Pickwick Papers