Row!' replied the cabman, 'what did he want my number for?' 'I didn't

want your number,' said the astonished Mr Pickwick.

What did you take it for, then?' inquired the cabman.

I didn't take it,' said Mr Pickwick indignantly.

Would anybody believe,' continued the cab-driver, appealing to the

crowd, 'would anybody believe as an informer'ud go about in a man's

cab, not only takin' down his number, but ev'ry word he says into the

bargain' (a light flashed upon Mr Pickwick - it was the note-book).

'Did he though?' inquired another cabman.

Yes, did he,' replied the first; 'and then arter aggerawatin' me to

assault him, gets three witnesses here to prove it. But I'll give it him, if

I've six months for it. Come on!' and the cabman dashed his hat upon

the ground, with a reckless disregard of his own private property, and

knocked Mr Pickwick's spectacles off, and followed up the attack with

a blow on Mr Pickwick's nose, and another on Mr Pickwick's chest,

and a third in Mr Snodgrass's eye, and a fourth, by way of variety, in

Mr Tupman's waistcoat, and then danced into the road, and then

back again to the pavement, and finally dashed the whole temporary

supply of breath out of Mr Winkle's body; and all in half a dozen

seconds.

Where's an officer?' said Mr Snodgrass.

Put 'em under the pump,' suggested a hot-pieman.

You shall smart for this,' gasped Mr Pickwick.

Informers!' shouted the crowd.

Come on,' cried the cabman, who had been sparring without

cessation the whole time.

The mob hitherto had been passive spectators of the scene, but as the

intelligence of the Pickwickians being informers was spread among

them, they began to canvass with considerable vivacity the propriety

of enforcing the heated pastry-vendor's proposition: and there is no

saying what acts of personal aggression they might have committed,

had not the affray been unexpectedly terminated by the interposition

of a new-comer.

What's the fun?' said a rather tall, thin, young man, in a green coat,

emerging suddenly from the coach-yard.

The Pickwick Papers