you for the manner in which you've brought this here business

through. Here's your health, sir.'

Hold hard there,' interposed the mottled-faced gentleman, with

sudden energy; 'your eyes on me, gen'l'm'n!'

Saying this, the mottled-faced gentleman rose, as did the other

gentlemen. The mottled-faced gentleman reviewed the company, and

slowly lifted his hand, upon which every man (including him of the

mottled countenance) drew a long breath, and lifted his tumbler to his

lips. In one instant, the mottled-faced gentleman depressed his hand

again, and every glass was set down empty. It is impossible to

describe the thrilling effect produced by this striking ceremony. At

once dignified, solemn, and impressive, it combined every element of

grandeur.

Well, gentlemen,' said Mr Pell, 'all I can say is, that such marks of

confidence must be very gratifying to a professional man. I don't wish

to say anything that might appear egotistical, gentlemen, but I'm very

glad, for your own sakes, that you came to me; that's all. If you had

gone to any low member of the profession, it's my firm conviction, and

I assure you of it as a fact, that you would have found yourselves in

Queer Street before this. I could have wished my noble friend had

been alive to have seen my management of this case. I don't say it out

of pride, but I think - However, gentlemen, I won't trouble you with

that. I'm generally to be found here, gentlemen, but if I'm not here, or

over the way, that's my address. You'll find my terms very cheap and

reasonable, and no man attends more to his clients than I do, and I

hope I know a little of my profession besides. If you have any

opportunity of recommending me to any of your friends, gentlemen, I

shall be very much obliged to you, and so will they too, when they

come to know me. Your healths, gentlemen.'

With this expression of his feelings, Mr Solomon Pell laid three small

written cards before Mr Weller's friends, and, looking at the clock

again, feared it was time to be walking. Upon this hint Mr Weller

settled the bill, and, issuing forth, the executor, legatee, attorney, and

umpires, directed their steps towards the city.

The office of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, of the Stock Exchange, was in a

first floor up a court behind the Bank of England; the house of

Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was at Brixton, Surrey; the horse and

stanhope of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, were at an adjacent livery

stable; the groom of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was on his way to the

West End to deliver some game; the clerk of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire,

had gone to his dinner; and so Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, himself,

cried, 'Come in,' when Mr Pell and his companions knocked at the

counting-house door.

The Pickwick Papers