'He means to say,' said Job, advancing a few paces, 'that if he is not

carried off by the fever, he will pay the money back again. If he lives,

he will, Mr Pickwick. I will see it done. I know he will, Sir,' said Job,

with energy. 'I could undertake to swear it.'

Well, well,' said Mr Pickwick, who had been bestowing a score or two

of frowns upon Perker, to stop his summary of benefits conferred,

which the little attorney obstinately disregarded, 'you must be careful

not to play any more desperate cricket matches, Mr Jingle, or to renew

your acquaintance with Sir Thomas Blazo, and I have little doubt of

your preserving your health.'

Mr Jingle smiled at this sally, but looked rather foolish

notwithstanding; so Mr Pickwick changed the subject by saying -

You don't happen to know, do you, what has become of another friend

of yours - a more humble one, whom I saw at Rochester?'

Dismal Jemmy?' inquired Jingle.

Yes.'

Jingle shook his head.

Clever rascal - queer fellow, hoaxing genius - Job's brother.'

'Job's brother!' exclaimed Mr Pickwick. 'Well, now I look at him

closely, there IS a likeness.'

We were always considered like each other, Sir,' said Job, with a

cunning look just lurking in the corners of his eyes, 'only I was really

of a serious nature, and he never was. He emigrated to America, Sir,

in consequence of being too much sought after here, to be

comfortable; and has never been heard of since.'

That accounts for my not having received the ‘page from the romance

of real life,’ which he promised me one morning when he appeared to

be contemplating suicide on Rochester Bridge, I suppose,' said Mr

Pickwick, smiling. 'I need not inquire whether his dismal behaviour

was natural or assumed.'

'He could assume anything, Sir,' said Job. 'You may consider yourself

very fortunate in having escaped him so easily. On intimate terms he

would have been even a more dangerous acquaintance than - ' Job

looked at Jingle, hesitated, and finally added, 'than - than-myself

even.'

The Pickwick Papers