Ah!' said Mr Pickwick, with a smile. 'I always thought him the

reverse.'

Well, and so did I, from what little I saw of him,' replied Lowten, 'it

only shows how one may be deceived. What do you think of his going

to Demerara, too?'

What! And giving up what was offered him here!' exclaimed Mr

Pickwick.

'Treating Perker's offer of eighteen bob a week, and a rise if he

behaved himself, like dirt,' replied Lowten. 'He said he must go along

with the other one, and so they persuaded Perker to write again, and

they've got him something on the same estate; not near so good,

Perker says, as a convict would get in New South Wales, if he

appeared at his trial in a new suit of clothes.'

'Foolish fellow,' said Mr Pickwick, with glistening eyes. 'Foolish fellow.'

'Oh, it's worse than foolish; it's downright sneaking, you know,' replied

Lowten, nibbing the pen with a contemptuous face. 'He says that he's

the only friend he ever had, and he's attached to him, and all that.

Friendship's a very good thing in its way - we are all very friendly and

comfortable at the Stump, for instance, over our grog, where every

man pays for himself; but damn hurting yourself for anybody else, you

know! No man should have more than two attachments - the first, to

number one, and the second to the ladies; that's what I say - ha! ha!'

Mr Lowten concluded with a loud laugh, half in jocularity, and half in

derision, which was prematurely cut short by the sound of Perker's

footsteps on the stairs, at the first approach of which, he vaulted on

his stool with an agility most remarkable, and wrote intensely.

The greeting between Mr Pickwick and his professional adviser was

warm and cordial; the client was scarcely ensconced in the attorney's

arm-chair, however, when a knock was heard at the door, and a voice

inquired whether Mr Perker was within.

Hark!' said Perker, 'that's one of our vagabond friends - Jingle

himself, my dear Sir. Will you see him?'

What do you think?' inquired Mr Pickwick, hesitating.

Yes, I think you had better. Here, you Sir, what's your name, walk in,

will you?'

In compliance with this unceremonious invitation, Jingle and Job

walked into the room, but, seeing Mr Pickwick, stopped short in some

confusion. 'Well,' said Perker, 'don't you know that gentleman?'

The Pickwick Papers