'You must see her. Sir,' said Mr Magnus; 'this way, if you please.

Excuse us for one instant, gentlemen.' Hurrying on in this way, Mr

Peter Magnus drew Mr Pickwick from the room. He paused at the next

door in the passage, and tapped gently thereat.

'Come in,' said a female voice. And in they went.

'Miss Witherfield,' said Mr Magnus, 'allow me to introduce my very

particular friend, Mr Pickwick. Mr Pickwick, I beg to make you known

to Miss Witherfield.'

The lady was at the upper end of the room. As Mr Pickwick bowed, he

took his spectacles from his waistcoat pocket, and put them on; a

process which he had no sooner gone through, than, uttering an

exclamation of surprise, Mr Pickwick retreated several paces, and the

lady, with a half-suppressed scream, hid her face in her hands, and

dropped into a chair; whereupon Mr Peter Magnus was stricken

motionless on the spot, and gazed from one to the other, with a

countenance expressive of the extremities of horror and surprise. This

certainly was, to all appearance, very unaccountable behaviour; but

the fact is, that Mr Pickwick no sooner put on his spectacles, than he

at once recognised in the future Mrs. Magnus the lady into whose

room he had so unwarrantably intruded on the previous night; and

the spectacles had no sooner crossed Mr Pickwick's nose, than the

lady at once identified the countenance which she had seen

surrounded by all the horrors of a nightcap. So the lady screamed,

and Mr Pickwick started.

Mr Pickwick!' exclaimed Mr Magnus, lost in astonishment, 'what is

the meaning of this, Sir? What is the meaning of it, Sir?' added Mr

Magnus, in a threatening, and a louder tone.

'Sir,' said Mr Pickwick, somewhat indignant at the very sudden

manner in which Mr Peter Magnus had conjugated himself into the

imperative mood, 'I decline answering that question.'

You decline it, Sir?' said Mr Magnus.

I do, Sir,' replied Mr Pickwick; 'I object to say anything which may

compromise that lady, or awaken unpleasant recollections in her

breast, without her consent and permission.'

Miss Witherfield,' said Mr Peter Magnus, 'do you know this person?'

Know him!' repeated the middle-aged lady, hesitating.

Yes, know him, ma'am; I said know him,' replied Mr Magnus, with

ferocity.

The Pickwick Papers