At ten precisely, I will be there,' said the little man. 'Sam is quite

right. Tell him so. Will you take a glass of wine, Lowten?' 'No, thank

you, Sir.'

You mean yes, I think,' said the little man, turning to the sideboard

for a decanter and glasses.

As Lowten DID mean yes, he said no more on the subject, but

inquired of Job, in an audible whisper, whether the portrait of Perker,

which hung opposite the fireplace, wasn't a wonderful likeness, to

which Job of course replied that it was. The wine being by this time

poured out, Lowten drank to Mrs. Perker and the children, and Job to

Perker. The gentleman in the plush shorts and cottons considering it

no part of his duty to show the people from the office out, consistently

declined to answer the bell, and they showed themselves out. The

attorney betook himself to his drawing-room, the clerk to the Magpie

and Stump, and Job to Covent Garden Market to spend the night in a

vegetable basket.

Punctually at the appointed hour next morning, the good- humoured

little attorney tapped at Mr Pickwick's door, which was opened with

great alacrity by Sam Weller.

Mr Perker, sir,' said Sam, announcing the visitor to Mr Pickwick, who

was sitting at the window in a thoughtful attitude. 'Wery glad you've

looked in accidentally, Sir. I rather think the gov'nor wants to have a

word and a half with you, Sir.'

Perker bestowed a look of intelligence on Sam, intimating that he

understood he was not to say he had been sent for; and beckoning

him to approach, whispered briefly in his ear.

You don't mean that 'ere, Sir?' said Sam, starting back in excessive

surprise.

Perker nodded and smiled.

Mr Samuel Weller looked at the little lawyer, then at Mr Pickwick,

then at the ceiling, then at Perker again; grinned, laughed outright,

and finally, catching up his hat from the carpet, without further

explanation, disappeared.

What does this mean?' inquired Mr Pickwick, looking at Perker with

astonishment. 'What has put Sam into this extraordinary state?'

Oh, nothing, nothing,' replied Perker. 'Come, my dear Sir, draw up

your chair to the table. I have a good deal to say to you.'

The Pickwick Papers