the lawyer's term for the restless, whirling mass of cares and

anxieties, affections, hopes, and griefs, that make up the living man.

The law had his body; and there it lay, clothed in grave- clothes, an

awful witness to its tender mercy.

Would you like to see a whistling-shop, Sir?' inquired Job Trotter.

What do you mean?' was Mr Pickwick's counter inquiry.

A vistlin' shop, Sir,' interposed Mr Weller.

What is that, Sam? - A bird-fancier's?' inquired Mr Pickwick.

Bless your heart, no, Sir,' replied Job; 'a whistling-shop, Sir, is where

they sell spirits.' Mr Job Trotter briefly explained here, that all

persons, being prohibited under heavy penalties from conveying

spirits into debtors' prisons, and such commodities being highly

prized by the ladies and gentlemen confined therein, it had occurred

to some speculative turnkey to connive, for certain lucrative

considerations, at two or three prisoners retailing the favourite article

of gin, for their own profit and advantage.

This plan, you see, Sir, has been gradually introduced into all the

prisons for debt,' said Mr Trotter.

'And it has this wery great advantage,' said Sam, 'that the turnkeys

takes wery good care to seize hold o' ev'rybody but them as pays 'em,

that attempts the willainy, and wen it gets in the papers they're

applauded for their wigilance; so it cuts two ways - frightens other

people from the trade, and elewates their own characters.'

Exactly so, Mr Weller,' observed Job.

Well, but are these rooms never searched to ascertain whether any

spirits are concealed in them?' said Mr Pickwick.

Cert'nly they are, Sir,' replied Sam; 'but the turnkeys knows

beforehand, and gives the word to the wistlers, and you may wistle for

it wen you go to look.'

By this time, Job had tapped at a door, which was opened by a

gentleman with an uncombed head, who bolted it after them when

they had walked in, and grinned; upon which Job grinned, and Sam

also; whereupon Mr Pickwick, thinking it might be expected of him,

kept on smiling to the end of the interview.

The gentleman with the uncombed head appeared quite satisfied with

this mute announcement of their business, and, producing a flat

The Pickwick Papers