Bidding the other passengers good-night, in a rather snappish

manner, the stranger alighted. He was a shortish gentleman, with very

stiff black hair cut in the porcupine or blacking-brush style, and

standing stiff and straight all over his head; his aspect was pompous

and threatening; his manner was peremptory; his eyes were sharp and

restless; and his whole bearing bespoke a feeling of great confidence in

himself, and a consciousness of immeasurable superiority over all

other people.

This gentleman was shown into the room originally assigned to the

patriotic Mr Pott; and the waiter remarked, in dumb astonishment at

the singular coincidence, that he had no sooner lighted the candles

than the gentleman, diving into his hat, drew forth a newspaper, and

began to read it with the very same expression of indignant scorn,

which, upon the majestic features of Pott, had paralysed his energies

an hour before. The man observed too, that, whereas Mr Pott's scorn

had been roused by a newspaper headed the Eatanswill

INDEPENDENT, this gentleman's withering contempt was awakened

by a newspaper entitled the Eatanswill GAZETTE.

Send the landlord,' said the stranger.

Yes, sir,' rejoined the waiter.

The landlord was sent, and came.

Are you the landlord?' inquired the gentleman.

I am sir,' replied the landlord.

My name is Slurk,' said the gentleman.

The landlord slightly inclined his head.

Slurk, sir,' repeated the gentleman haughtily. 'Do you know me now,

man?'

The landlord scratched his head, looked at the ceiling, and at the

stranger, and smiled feebly.

Do you know me, man?' inquired the stranger angrily.

The landlord made a strong effort, and at length replied,

'Well, Sir, I do not know you.'

'Great Heaven!' said the stranger, dashing his clenched fist upon the

table. 'And this is popularity!'

The Pickwick Papers