No, sir,' replied Bob, With no remains of the clown about him, save

and except the extreme redness of his cheeks.

You are sure you did not, sir?' said Mr Winkle, senior.

Oh dear, yes, sir, quite,' replied Bob.

I thought you did, Sir,' replied the old gentleman, with indignant

emphasis. 'Perhaps you LOOKED at me, sir?'

Oh, no! sir, not at all,' replied Bob, with extreme civility.

I am very glad to hear it, sir,' said Mr Winkle, senior. Having frowned

upon the abashed Bob with great magnificence, the old gentleman

again brought the letter to the light, and began to read it seriously.

Mr Pickwick eyed him intently as he turned from the bottom line of

the first page to the top line of the second, and from the bottom of the

second to the top of the third, and from the bottom of the third to the

top of the fourth; but not the slightest alteration of countenance

afforded a clue to the feelings with which he received the

announcement of his son's marriage, which Mr Pickwick knew was in

the very first half-dozen lines.

He read the letter to the last word, folded it again with all the

carefulness and precision of a man of business, and, just when Mr

Pickwick expected some great outbreak of feeling, dipped a pen in the

ink-stand, and said, as quietly as if he were speaking on the most

ordinary counting-house topic -

What is Nathaniel's address, Mr Pickwick?'

The George and Vulture, at present,' replied that gentleman.

George and Vulture. Where is that?'

George Yard, Lombard Street.'

In the city?'

Yes.'

The old gentleman methodically indorsed the address on the back of

the letter; and then, placing it in the desk, which he locked, said, as

he got off the stool and put the bunch of keys in his pocket -

'I suppose there is nothing else which need detain us, Mr Pickwick?'

The Pickwick Papers