'I hope that's Jack Hopkins!' said Mr Bob Sawyer. 'Hush. Yes, it is.

Come up, Jack; come up.'

A heavy footstep was heard upon the stairs, and Jack Hopkins

presented himself. He wore a black velvet waistcoat, with thunder-

and-lightning buttons; and a blue striped shirt, with a white false

collar.

You're late, Jack?' said Mr Benjamin Allen.

Been detained at Bartholomew's,' replied Hopkins.

Anything new?'

No, nothing particular. Rather a good accident brought into the

casualty ward.'

What was that, sir?' inquired Mr Pickwick.

Only a man fallen out of a four pair of stairs' window; but it's a very

fair case indeed.'

'Do you mean that the patient is in a fair way to recover?' inquired Mr

Pickwick. 'No,' replied Mr Hopkins carelessly. 'No, I should rather say

he wouldn't. There must be a splendid operation, though, to-morrow -

magnificent sight if Slasher does it.'

'You consider Mr Slasher a good operator?' said Mr Pickwick. 'Best

alive,' replied Hopkins. 'Took a boy's leg out of the socket last week -

boy ate five apples and a gingerbread cake - exactly two minutes after

it was all over, boy said he wouldn't lie there to be made game of, and

he'd tell his mother if they didn't begin.'

Dear me!' said Mr Pickwick, astonished.

Pooh! That's nothing, that ain't,' said Jack Hopkins. 'Is it, Bob?'

Nothing at all,' replied Mr Bob Sawyer.

By the bye, Bob,' said Hopkins, with a scarcely perceptible glance at

Mr Pickwick's attentive face, 'we had a curious accident last night. A

child was brought in, who had swallowed a necklace.'

Swallowed what, Sir?' interrupted Mr Pickwick. 'A necklace,' replied

Jack Hopkins. 'Not all at once, you know, that would be too much -

you couldn't swallow that, if the child did - eh, Mr Pickwick? ha, ha!'

Mr Hopkins appeared highly gratified with his own pleasantry, and

continued - 'No, the way was this. Child's parents were poor people

The Pickwick Papers