| 706 | 707 | 708 | 709 | 710 |
| 1 | 198 | 396 | 594 | 792 |
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lying on the table before him, and was perusing the leading article of
one with a settled sneer which curled up his nose and all other
features into a majestic expression of haughty contempt.
'
Hollo!' said Sam, 'I ought to know that 'ere head and them features;
the eyeglass, too, and the broad-brimmed tile! Eatansvill to vit, or I'm
a Roman.'
Sam was taken with a troublesome cough, at once, for the purpose of
attracting the gentleman's attention; the gentleman starting at the
sound, raised his head and his eyeglass, and disclosed to view the
profound and thoughtful features of Mr Pott, of the Eatanswill
GAZETTE.
'Beggin' your pardon, sir,' said Sam, advancing with a bow, 'my
master's here, Mr Pott.'
'Hush! hush!' cried Pott, drawing Sam into the room, and closing the
door, with a countenance of mysterious dread and apprehension.
'
Wot's the matter, Sir?' inquired Sam, looking vacantly about him.
Not a whisper of my name,' replied Pott; 'this is a buff neighbourhood.
'
If the excited and irritable populace knew I was here, I should be torn
to pieces.'
'
'
No! Vould you, sir?' inquired Sam.
I should be the victim of their fury,' replied Pott. 'Now young man,
what of your master?'
'
He's a-stopping here to-night on his vay to town, with a couple of
friends,' replied Sam.
'Is Mr Winkle one of them?' inquired Pott, with a slight frown.
'No, Sir. Mr Vinkle stops at home now,' rejoined Sam. 'He's married.'
'Married!' exclaimed Pott, with frightful vehemence. He stopped,
smiled darkly, and added, in a low, vindictive tone, 'It serves him
right!' Having given vent to this cruel ebullition of deadly malice and
cold-blooded triumph over a fallen enemy, Mr Pott inquired whether
Mr Pickwick's friends were 'blue?' Receiving a most satisfactory
answer in the affirmative from Sam, who knew as much about the
matter as Pott himself, he consented to accompany him to Mr
Pickwick's room, where a hearty welcome awaited him, and an
agreement to club their dinners together was at once made and
ratified.
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