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Chapter XXXV
In Which Mr Pickwick Thinks He Had Better Go To Bath; And
Goes Accordingly
'
But surely, my dear sir,' said little Perker, as he stood in Mr
Pickwick's apartment on the morning after the trial, 'surely you don't
really mean - really and seriously now, and irritation apart - that you
won't pay these costs and damages?'
'Not one halfpenny,' said Mr Pickwick firmly; 'not one halfpenny.'
'
Hooroar for the principle, as the money-lender said ven he vouldn't
renew the bill,' observed Mr Weller, who was clearing away the
breakfast-things.
'
'
Sam,' said Mr Pickwick, 'have the goodness to step downstairs.'
Cert'nly, sir,' replied Mr Weller; and acting on Mr Pickwick's gentle
hint, Sam retired.
'No, Perker,' said Mr Pickwick, with great seriousness of manner, 'my
friends here have endeavoured to dissuade me from this
determination, but without avail. I shall employ myself as usual, until
the opposite party have the power of issuing a legal process of
execution against me; and if they are vile enough to avail themselves
of it, and to arrest my person, I shall yield myself up with perfect
cheerfulness and content of heart. When can they do this?'
'They can issue execution, my dear Sir, for the amount of the damages
and taxed costs, next term,' replied Perker, 'just two months hence,
my dear sir.'
'
Very good,' said Mr Pickwick. 'Until that time, my dear fellow, let me
hear no more of the matter. And now,' continued Mr Pickwick, looking
round on his friends with a good- humoured smile, and a sparkle in
the eye which no spectacles could dim or conceal, 'the only question
is, Where shall we go next?'
Mr Tupman and Mr Snodgrass were too much affected by their
friend's heroism to offer any reply. Mr Winkle had not yet sufficiently
recovered the recollection of his evidence at the trial, to make any
observation on any subject, so Mr Pickwick paused in vain.
'
Well,' said that gentleman, 'if you leave me to suggest our destination,
I say Bath. I think none of us have ever been there.'
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