'Well, I never saw such a game as that,' said the gentleman who had

offered the razor, whose name appeared to be Price. 'Never!' Mr Price

confirmed the assertion with an oath, and then laughed again, when

of course the boy (who thought his companion one of the most

dashing fellows alive) laughed also.

You'd hardly think, would you now,' said Price, turning towards Mr

Pickwick, 'that that chap's been here a week yesterday, and never

once shaved himself yet, because he feels so certain he's going out in

half an hour's time, thinks he may as well put it off till he gets home?'

'Poor man!' said Mr Pickwick. 'Are his chances of getting out of his

difficulties really so great?'

Chances be d - d,' replied Price; 'he hasn't half the ghost of one. I

wouldn't give THAT for his chance of walking about the streets this

time ten years.' With this, Mr Price snapped his fingers

contemptuously, and rang the bell.

'Give me a sheet of paper, Crookey,' said Mr Price to the attendant,

who in dress and general appearance looked something between a

bankrupt glazier, and a drover in a state of insolvency; 'and a glass of

brandy-and-water, Crookey, d'ye hear? I'm going to write to my father,

and I must have a stimulant, or I shan't be able to pitch it strong

enough into the old boy.' At this facetious speech, the young boy, it is

almost needless to say, was fairly convulsed.

That's right,' said Mr Price. 'Never say die. All fun, ain't it?'

Prime!' said the young gentleman.

You've got some spirit about you, you have,' said Price. 'You've seen

something of life.'

I rather think I have!' replied the boy. He had looked at it through the

dirty panes of glass in a bar door.

Mr Pickwick, feeling not a little disgusted with this dialogue, as well as

with the air and manner of the two beings by whom it had been

carried on, was about to inquire whether he could not be

accommodated with a private sitting-room, when two or three

strangers of genteel appearance entered, at sight of whom the boy

threw his cigar into the fire, and whispering to Mr Price that they had

come to 'make it all right' for him, joined them at a table in the farther

end of the room.

It would appear, however, that matters were not going to be made all

right quite so speedily as the young gentleman anticipated; for a very

The Pickwick Papers