Mr Lowten disappeared with a grin, and immediately returned

ushering in the firm, in due form of precedence - Dodson first, and

Fogg afterwards.

'You have seen Mr Pickwick, I believe?' said Perker to Dodson,

inclining his pen in the direction where that gentleman was seated.

How do you do, Mr Pickwick?' said Dodson, in a loud voice.

Dear me,'cried Fogg, 'how do you do, Mr Pickwick? I hope you are

well, Sir. I thought I knew the face,' said Fogg, drawing up a chair,

and looking round him with a smile.

Mr Pickwick bent his head very slightly, in answer to these

salutations, and, seeing Fogg pull a bundle of papers from his coat

pocket, rose and walked to the window.

There's no occasion for Mr Pickwick to move, Mr Perker,' said Fogg,

untying the red tape which encircled the little bundle, and smiling

again more sweetly than before. 'Mr Pickwick is pretty well acquainted

with these proceedings. There are no secrets between us, I think. He!

he! he!'

Not many, I think,' said Dodson. 'Ha! ha! ha!' Then both the partners

laughed together - pleasantly and cheerfully, as men who are going to

receive money often do.

We shall make Mr Pickwick pay for peeping,' said Fogg, with

considerable native humour, as he unfolded his papers. 'The amount

of the taxed costs is one hundred and thirty-three, six, four, Mr

Perker.'

There was a great comparing of papers, and turning over of leaves, by

Fogg and Perker, after this statement of profit and loss. Meanwhile,

Dodson said, in an affable manner, to Mr Pickwick -

I don't think you are looking quite so stout as when I had the

pleasure of seeing you last, Mr Pickwick.'

Possibly not, Sir,' replied Mr Pickwick, who had been flashing forth

looks of fierce indignation, without producing the smallest effect on

either of the sharp practitioners; 'I believe I am not, Sir. I have been

persecuted and annoyed by scoundrels of late, Sir.' Perker coughed

violently, and asked Mr Pickwick whether he wouldn't like to look at

the morning paper. To which inquiry Mr Pickwick returned a most

decided negative.

The Pickwick Papers