I am,' replied Mr Pickwick.

Extraordinary coincidence. So am I.'

Mr Pickwick bowed.

Going outside?' said the red-haired man. Mr Pickwick bowed again.

Bless my soul, how remarkable - I am going outside, too,' said the

red-haired man; 'we are positively going together.' And the red-haired

man, who was an important-looking, sharp-nosed, mysterious-spoken

personage, with a bird-like habit of giving his head a jerk every time

he said anything, smiled as if he had made one of the strangest

discoveries that ever fell to the lot of human wisdom.

I am happy in the prospect of your company, Sir,' said Mr Pickwick.

Ah,' said the new-comer, 'it's a good thing for both of us, isn't it?

Company, you see - company - is - is - it's a very different thing from

solitude - ain't it?'

There's no denying that 'ere,' said Mr Weller, joining in the

conversation, with an affable smile. 'That's what I call a self- evident

proposition, as the dog's-meat man said, when the housemaid told

him he warn't a gentleman.'

Ah,' said the red-haired man, surveying Mr Weller from head to foot

with a supercilious look. 'Friend of yours, sir?'

'Not exactly a friend,' replied Mr Pickwick, in a low tone. 'The fact is,

he is my servant, but I allow him to take a good many liberties; for,

between ourselves, I flatter myself he is an original, and I am rather

proud of him.'

Ah,' said the red-haired man, 'that, you see, is a matter of taste. I am

not fond of anything original; I don't like it; don't see the necessity for

it. What's your name, sir?'

'Here is my card, sir,' replied Mr Pickwick, much amused by the

abruptness of the question, and the singular manner of the stranger.

Ah,' said the red-haired man, placing the card in his pocket- book,

Pickwick; very good. I like to know a man's name, it saves so much

trouble. That's my card, sir. Magnus, you will perceive, sir - Magnus is

my name. It's rather a good name, I think, sir.'

'A very good name, indeed,' said Mr Pickwick, wholly unable to repress

a smile.

The Pickwick Papers