'Thank you,' said Mr Pickwick.

I'm sorry to say that your landlord's wery bad to-night, Sir,' said

Roker, setting down the glass, and inspecting the lining of his hat

preparatory to putting it on again.

What! The Chancery prisoner!' exclaimed Mr Pickwick.

He won't be a Chancery prisoner wery long, Sir,' replied Roker,

turning his hat round, so as to get the maker's name right side

upwards, as he looked into it.

You make my blood run cold,' said Mr Pickwick. 'What do you mean?'

He's been consumptive for a long time past,' said Mr Roker, 'and he's

taken wery bad in the breath to-night. The doctor said, six months

ago, that nothing but change of air could save him.'

'Great Heaven!' exclaimed Mr Pickwick; 'has this man been slowly

murdered by the law for six months?'

'I don't know about that,' replied Roker, weighing the hat by the brim

in both hands. 'I suppose he'd have been took the same, wherever he

was. He went into the infirmary, this morning; the doctor says his

strength is to be kept up as much as possible; and the warden's sent

him wine and broth and that, from his own house. It's not the

warden's fault, you know, sir.'

'Of course not,' replied Mr Pickwick hastily.

I'm afraid, however,' said Roker, shaking his head, 'that it's all up

with him. I offered Neddy two six-penn'orths to one upon it just now,

but he wouldn't take it, and quite right. Thank'ee, Sir. Good-night,

sir.'

'Stay,' said Mr Pickwick earnestly. 'Where is this infirmary?'

Just over where you slept, sir,' replied Roker. 'I'll show you, if you like

to come.' Mr Pickwick snatched up his hat without speaking, and

followed at once.

The turnkey led the way in silence; and gently raising the latch of the

room door, motioned Mr Pickwick to enter. It was a large, bare,

desolate room, with a number of stump bedsteads made of iron, on

one of which lay stretched the shadow of a man - wan, pale, and

ghastly. His breathing was hard and thick, and he moaned painfully

as it came and went. At the bedside sat a short old man in a cobbler's

The Pickwick Papers