The Pickwick Papers


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Chapter XLVIII  
Relates How Mr Pickwick, With The Assistance Of Samuel Weller,  
Essayed To Soften The Heart Of Mr Benjamin Allen, And To  
Mollify The Wrath Of Mr Robert Sawyer  
Mr Ben Allen and Mr Bob Sawyer sat together in the little surgery  
behind the shop, discussing minced veal and future prospects, when  
the discourse, not unnaturally, turned upon the practice acquired by  
Bob the aforesaid, and his present chances of deriving a competent  
independence from the honourable profession to which he had  
devoted himself.  
'Which, I think,' observed Mr Bob Sawyer, pursuing the thread of the  
subject - 'which, I think, Ben, are rather dubious.'  
'What's rather dubious?' inquired Mr Ben Allen, at the same time  
sharpening his intellect with a draught of beer. 'What's dubious?'  
'
'
Why, the chances,' responded Mr Bob Sawyer.  
I forgot,' said Mr Ben Allen. 'The beer has reminded me that I forgot,  
Bob - yes; they ARE dubious.'  
'
It's wonderful how the poor people patronise me,' said Mr Bob Sawyer  
reflectively. 'They knock me up, at all hours of the night; they take  
medicine to an extent which I should have conceived impossible; they  
put on blisters and leeches with a perseverance worthy of a better  
cause; they make additions to their families, in a manner which is  
quite awful. Six of those last-named little promissory notes, all due on  
the same day, Ben, and all intrusted to me!'  
'
It's very gratifying, isn't it?' said Mr Ben Allen, holding his plate for  
some more minced veal.  
'
Oh, very,' replied Bob; 'only not quite so much so as the confidence of  
patients with a shilling or two to spare would be. This business was  
capitally described in the advertisement, Ben. It is a practice, a very  
extensive practice - and that's all.'  
'Bob,' said Mr Ben Allen, laying down his knife and fork, and fixing his  
eyes on the visage of his friend, 'Bob, I'll tell you what it is.'  
'What is it?' inquired Mr Bob Sawyer.  
'
You must make yourself, with as little delay as possible, master of  
Arabella's one thousand pounds.'  


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658 659 660 661 662

Quick Jump
1 198 396 594 792