'I'm a heavy sleeper,' said Mr Dowler, as he flung himself on the bed. 'I

must keep awake. I suppose I shall hear a knock here. Yes. I thought

so. I can hear the watchman. There he goes. Fainter now, though. A

little fainter. He's turning the corner. Ah!' When Mr Dowler arrived at

this point, he turned the corner at which he had been long hesitating,

and fell fast asleep.

Just as the clock struck three, there was blown into the crescent a

sedan-chair with Mrs. Dowler inside, borne by one short, fat

chairman, and one long, thin one, who had had much ado to keep

their bodies perpendicular: to say nothing of the chair. But on that

high ground, and in the crescent, which the wind swept round and

round as if it were going to tear the paving stones up, its fury was

tremendous. They were very glad to set the chair down, and give a

good round loud double-knock at the street door.

They waited some time, but nobody came.

Servants is in the arms o' Porpus, I think,' said the short chairman,

warming his hands at the attendant link-boy's torch.

'I wish he'd give 'em a squeeze and wake 'em,' observed the long one.

Knock again, will you, if you please,' cried Mrs. Dowler from the chair.

Knock two or three times, if you please.'

The short man was quite willing to get the job over, as soon as

possible; so he stood on the step, and gave four or five most startling

double-knocks, of eight or ten knocks a-piece, while the long man

went into the road, and looked up at the windows for a light.

Nobody came. It was all as silent and dark as ever.

Dear me!' said Mrs. Dowler. 'You must knock again, if you please.'

There ain't a bell, is there, ma'am?' said the short chairman.

Yes, there is,' interposed the link-boy, 'I've been a-ringing at it ever so

long.'

It's only a handle,' said Mrs. Dowler, 'the wire's broken.'

I wish the servants' heads wos,' growled the long man.

I must trouble you to knock again, if you please,' said Mrs. Dowler,

with the utmost politeness.

The short man did knock again several times, without producing the

smallest effect. The tall man, growing very impatient, then relieved

The Pickwick Papers