While Mr Pickwick was mixing his brandy-and-water, the one-eyed

man looked round at him earnestly, from time to time, and at length

said -

I think I've seen you before.'

I don't recollect you,' rejoined Mr Pickwick.

I dare say not,' said the one-eyed man. 'You didn't know me, but I

knew two friends of yours that were stopping at the Peacock at

Eatanswill, at the time of the election.'

Oh, indeed!' exclaimed Mr Pickwick.

Yes,' rejoined the one-eyed man. 'I mentioned a little circumstance to

them about a friend of mine of the name of Tom Smart. Perhaps

you've heard them speak of it.'

'Often,' rejoined Mr Pickwick, smiling. 'He was your uncle, I think?'

'No, no; only a friend of my uncle's,' replied the one-eyed man.

'He was a wonderful man, that uncle of yours, though,' remarked the

landlord shaking his head.

'Well, I think he was; I think I may say he was,' answered the one-eyed

man. 'I could tell you a story about that same uncle, gentlemen, that

would rather surprise you.'

'Could you?' said Mr Pickwick. 'Let us hear it, by all means.'

The one-eyed bagman ladled out a glass of negus from the bowl, and

drank it; smoked a long whiff out of the Dutch pipe; and then, calling

to Sam Weller who was lingering near the door, that he needn't go

away unless he wanted to, because the story was no secret, fixed his

eye upon the landlord's, and proceeded, in the words of the next

chapter.

The Pickwick Papers