once more was a joint reply returned; and, though the words were

inaudible, Sam saw by the motion of the two pairs of lips that they

had uttered the magic word 'Pickwick.'

This was enough. In another minute Mr Weller had made his way

through the crowd, stopped the chairmen, and confronted the portly

Grummer.

'Hollo, old gen'l'm'n!' said Sam. 'Who have you got in this here

conweyance?'

Stand back,' said Mr Grummer, whose dignity, like the dignity of a

great many other men, had been wondrously augmented by a little

popularity.

'Knock him down, if he don't,' said Mr Dubbley.

I'm wery much obliged to you, old gen'l'm'n,' replied Sam, 'for

consulting my conwenience, and I'm still more obliged to the other

gen'l'm'n, who looks as if he'd just escaped from a giant's carrywan,

for his wery 'andsome suggestion; but I should prefer your givin' me a

answer to my question, if it's all the same to you. - How are you, Sir?'

This last observation was addressed with a patronising air to Mr

Pickwick, who was peeping through the front window.

Mr Grummer, perfectly speechless with indignation, dragged the

truncheon with the brass crown from its particular pocket, and

flourished it before Sam's eyes.

Ah,' said Sam, 'it's wery pretty, 'specially the crown, which is

uncommon like the real one.'

Stand back!' said the outraged Mr Grummer. By way of adding force

to the command, he thrust the brass emblem of royalty into Sam's

neckcloth with one hand, and seized Sam's collar with the other - a

compliment which Mr Weller returned by knocking him down out of

hand, having previously with the utmost consideration, knocked down

a chairman for him to lie upon.

Whether Mr Winkle was seized with a temporary attack of that species

of insanity which originates in a sense of injury, or animated by this

display of Mr Weller's valour, is uncertain; but certain it is, that he no

sooner saw Mr Grummer fall than he made a terrific onslaught on a

small boy who stood next him; whereupon Mr Snodgrass, in a truly

Christian spirit, and in order that he might take no one unawares,

announced in a very loud tone that he was going to begin, and

proceeded to take off his coat with the utmost deliberation. He was

immediately surrounded and secured; and it is but common justice

The Pickwick Papers