long conversation ensued, of which Mr Pickwick could not avoid

hearing certain angry fragments regarding dissolute conduct, and

repeated forgiveness. At last, there were very distinct allusions made

by the oldest gentleman of the party to one Whitecross Street, at

which the young gentleman, notwithstanding his primeness and his

spirit, and his knowledge of life into the bargain, reclined his head

upon the table, and howled dismally.

Very much satisfied with this sudden bringing down of the youth's

valour, and this effectual lowering of his tone, Mr Pickwick rang the

bell, and was shown, at his own request, into a private room furnished

with a carpet, table, chairs, sideboard and sofa, and ornamented with

a looking-glass, and various old prints. Here he had the advantage of

hearing Mrs. Namby's performance on a square piano overhead, while

the breakfast was getting ready; when it came, Mr Perker came too.

'Aha, my dear sir,' said the little man, 'nailed at last, eh? Come, come,

I'm not sorry for it either, because now you'll see the absurdity of this

conduct. I've noted down the amount of the taxed costs and damages

for which the ca-sa was issued, and we had better settle at once and

lose no time. Namby is come home by this time, I dare say. What say

you, my dear sir? Shall I draw a cheque, or will you?' The little man

rubbed his hands with affected cheerfulness as he said this, but

glancing at Mr Pickwick's countenance, could not forbear at the same

time casting a desponding look towards Sam Weller.

Perker,' said Mr Pickwick, 'let me hear no more of this, I beg. I see no

advantage in staying here, so I Shall go to prison to-night.'

You can't go to Whitecross Street, my dear Sir,' said Perker.

Impossible! There are sixty beds in a ward; and the bolt's on, sixteen

hours out of the four-and-twenty.'

I would rather go to some other place of confinement if I can,' said Mr

Pickwick. 'If not, I must make the best I can of that.'

You can go to the Fleet, my dear Sir, if you're determined to go

somewhere,' said Perker.

That'll do,' said Mr Pickwick. 'I'll go there directly I have finished my

breakfast.'

Stop, stop, my dear Sir; not the least occasion for being in such a

violent hurry to get into a place that most other men are as eager to

get out of,' said the good-natured little attorney. 'We must have a

habeas-corpus. There'll be no judge at chambers till four o'clock this

afternoon. You must wait till then.'

The Pickwick Papers