'A blow, Sir?' stammered Mr. Winkle.

'A blow, Sir,' replied Dowler. 'Compose your feelings. Sitdown. Hear me.'

'Sir,' said Mr. Winkle, trembling from head to foot, 'before Iconsent to sit down beside, or opposite you, without the presenceof a waiter, I must be secured by some further understanding.You used a threat against me last night, Sir, a dreadful threat,Sir.' Here Mr. Winkle turned very pale indeed, and stopped short.

'I did,' said Dowler, with a countenance almost as white asMr. Winkle's. 'Circumstances were suspicious. They have beenexplained. I respect your bravery. Your feeling is upright.Conscious innocence. There's my hand. Grasp it.'

'Really, Sir,' said Mr. Winkle, hesitating whether to give hishand or not, and almost fearing that it was demanded in orderthat he might be taken at an advantage, 'really, Sir, I--'

'I know what you mean,' interposed Dowler. 'You feelaggrieved. Very natural. So should I. I was wrong. I beg yourpardon. Be friendly. Forgive me.' With this, Dowler fairlyforced his hand upon Mr. Winkle, and shaking it with the utmostvehemence, declared he was a fellow of extreme spirit, and he hada higher opinion of him than ever.

'Now,' said Dowler, 'sit down. Relate it all. How did you findme? When did you follow? Be frank. Tell me.'

'It's quite accidental,' replied Mr. Winkle, greatly perplexedby the curious and unexpected nature of the interview. 'Quite.'

'Glad of it,' said Dowler. 'I woke this morning. I had forgottenmy threat. I laughed at the accident. I felt friendly. I said so.'

'To whom?' inquired Mr. Winkle.

'To Mrs. Dowler. "You made a vow," said she. "I did," said I."It was a rash one," said she. "It was," said I. "I'll apologise.Where is he?"'

'Who?' inquired Mr. Winkle.

'You,' replied Dowler. 'I went downstairs. You were not to befound. Pickwick looked gloomy. Shook his head. Hoped noviolence would be committed. I saw it all. You felt yourselfinsulted. You had gone, for a friend perhaps. Possibly for pistols."High spirit," said I. "I admire him."'

Mr. Winkle coughed, and beginning to see how the land lay,assumed a look of importance.

'I left a note for you,' resumed Dowler. 'I said I was sorry. SoI was. Pressing business called me here. You were not satisfied.You followed. You required a verbal explanation. You wereright. It's all over now. My business is finished. I go backto-morrow. Join me.'

As Dowler progressed in his explanation, Mr. Winkle'scountenance grew more and more dignified. The mysteriousnature of the commencement of their conversation wasexplained; Mr. Dowler had as great an objection to duelling ashimself; in short, this blustering and awful personage was one ofthe most egregious cowards in existence, and interpreting Mr.Winkle's absence through the medium of his own fears, hadtaken the same step as himself, and prudently retired until allexcitement of feeling should have subsided.

As the real state of the case dawned upon Mr. Winkle's mind,he looked very terrible, and said he was perfectly satisfied; but atthe same time, said so with an air that left Mr. Dowler no alternativebut to infer that if he had not been, something most horribleand destructive must inevitably have occurred. Mr. Dowlerappeared to be impressed with a becoming sense of Mr. Winkle'smagnanimity and condescension; and the two belligerents partedfor the night, with many protestations of eternal friendship.

About half-past twelve o'clock, when Mr. Winkle had beenrevelling some twenty minutes in the full luxury of his first sleep,he was suddenly awakened by a loud knocking at his chamberdoor, which, being repeated with increased vehemence, causedhim to start up in bed, and inquire who was there, and what thematter was.

'Please, Sir, here's a young man which says he must see youdirectly,' responded the voice of the chambermaid.

'A young man!' exclaimed Mr. Winkle.

'No mistake about that 'ere, Sir,' replied another voice throughthe keyhole; 'and if that wery same interestin' young creetur ain'tlet in vithout delay, it's wery possible as his legs vill enter aforehis countenance.' The young man gave a gentle kick at one of the

lower panels of the door, after he had given utterance to this hint,as if to add force and point to the remark.

'Is that you, Sam?' inquired Mr. Winkle, springing out of bed.

'Quite unpossible to identify any gen'l'm'n vith any degree o'mental satisfaction, vithout lookin' at him, Sir,' replied thevoice dogmatically.

Mr. Winkle, not much doubting who the young man was,unlocked the door; which he had no sooner done than Mr.Samuel Weller entered with great precipitation, and carefullyrelocking it on the inside, deliberately put the key in his waistcoatpocket; and, after surveying Mr. Winkle from head to foot,said--

'You're a wery humorous young gen'l'm'n, you air, Sir!'

'What do you mean by this conduct, Sam?' inquired Mr.Winkle indignantly. 'Get out, sir, this instant. What do youmean, Sir?'

'What do I mean,' retorted Sam; 'come, Sir, this is rayther toorich, as the young lady said when she remonstrated with thepastry-cook, arter he'd sold her a pork pie as had got nothin' butfat inside. What do I mean! Well, that ain't a bad 'un, that ain't.'

'Unlock that door, and leave this room immediately, Sir,' saidMr. Winkle.

'I shall leave this here room, sir, just precisely at the werysame moment as you leaves it,' responded Sam, speaking in aforcible manner, and seating himself with perfect gravity. 'If Ifind it necessary to carry you away, pick-a-back, o' course I shallleave it the least bit o' time possible afore you; but allow me toexpress a hope as you won't reduce me to extremities; in sayingwich, I merely quote wot the nobleman said to the fractiouspennywinkle, ven he vouldn't come out of his shell by means of apin, and he conseqvently began to be afeered that he should beobliged to crack him in the parlour door.' At the end of thisaddress, which was unusually lengthy for him, Mr. Wellerplanted his hands on his knees, and looked full in Mr. Winkle'sface, with an expression of countenance which showed that hehad not the remotest intention of being trifled with.

'You're a amiably-disposed young man, Sir, I don't think,'resumed Mr. Weller, in a tone of moral reproof, 'to go inwolvingour precious governor in all sorts o' fanteegs, wen he's made uphis mind to go through everythink for principle. You're farworse nor Dodson, Sir; and as for Fogg, I consider him a bornangel to you!' Mr. Weller having accompanied this last sentimentwith an emphatic slap on each knee, folded his arms with a lookof great disgust, and threw himself back in his chair, as ifawaiting the criminal's defence.

'My good fellow,' said Mr. Winkle, extending his hand--histeeth chattering all the time he spoke, for he had been standing,during the whole of Mr. Weller's lecture, in his night-gear--'mygood fellow, I respect your attachment to my excellent friend,and I am very sorry indeed to have added to his causes fordisquiet. There, Sam, there!'

'Well,' said Sam, rather sulkily, but giving the proffered handa respectful shake at the same time--'well, so you ought to be,and I am very glad to find you air; for, if I can help it, I won'thave him put upon by nobody, and that's all about it.'

'Certainly not, Sam,' said Mr. Winkle. 'There! Now go to bed,Sam, and we'll talk further about this in the morning.'

'I'm wery sorry,' said Sam, 'but I can't go to bed.'

'Not go to bed!' repeated Mr. Winkle.

'No,' said Sam, shaking his head. 'Can't be done.'

'You don't mean to say you're going back to-night, Sam?'urged Mr. Winkle, greatly surprised.

'Not unless you particklerly wish it,' replied Sam; 'but Imustn't leave this here room. The governor's orders wos peremptory.'

'Nonsense, Sam,' said Mr. Winkle, 'I must stop here two orthree days; and more than that, Sam, you must stop here too,to assist me in gaining an interview with a young lady--MissAllen, Sam; you remember her--whom I must and will see beforeI leave Bristol.'

But in reply to each of these positions, Sam shook his headwith great firmness, and energetically replied, 'It can't be done.'

After a great deal of argument and representation on the partof Mr. Winkle, however, and a full disclosure of what had passedin the interview with Dowler, Sam began to waver; and at lengtha compromise was effected, of which the following were the mainand principal conditions:--

That Sam should retire, and leave Mr. Winkle in the undisturbedpossession of his apartment, on the condition that he hadpermission to lock the door on the outside, and carry off the key;provided always, that in the event of an alarm of fire, or otherdangerous contingency, the door should be instantly unlocked.That a letter should be written to Mr. Pickwick early nextmorning, and forwarded per Dowler, requesting his consent toSam and Mr. Winkle's remaining at Bristol, for the purpose andwith the object already assigned, and begging an answer by thenext coach--, if favourable, the aforesaid parties to remainaccordingly, and if not, to return to Bath immediately on thereceipt thereof. And, lastly, that Mr. Winkle should be understoodas distinctly pledging himself not to resort to the window,fireplace, or other surreptitious mode of escape in the meanwhile.These stipulations having been concluded, Sam locked the doorand departed.

He had nearly got downstairs, when he stopped, and drew thekey from his pocket.

'I quite forgot about the knockin' down,' said Sam, halfturning back. 'The governor distinctly said it was to be done.Amazin' stupid o' me, that 'ere! Never mind,' said Sam, brighteningup, 'it's easily done to-morrow, anyvays.'

Apparently much consoled by this reflection, Mr. Weller oncemore deposited the key in his pocket, and descending the remainderof the stairs without any fresh visitations of conscience,was soon, in common with the other inmates of the house, buriedin profound repose.

CHAPTER XXXIXMr. SAMUEL WELLER, BEING INTRUSTED WITH A MISSIONOF LOVE, PROCEEDS TO EXECUTE IT; WITH WHAT SUCCESSWILL HEREINAFTER APPEAR

During the whole of next day, Sam kept Mr. Winkle steadily insight, fully determined not to take his eyes off him for oneinstant, until he should receive express instructions from thefountain-head. However disagreeable Sam's very close watch andgreat vigilance were to Mr. Winkle, he thought it better to bearwith them, than, by any act of violent opposition, to hazardbeing carried away by force, which Mr. Weller more than oncestrongly hinted was the line of conduct that a strict sense of dutyprompted him to pursue. There is little reason to doubt that Samwould very speedily have quieted his scruples, by bearingMr. Winkle back to Bath, bound hand and foot, had not Mr.Pickwick's prompt attention to the note, which Dowler hadundertaken to deliver, forestalled any such proceeding. Inshort, at eight o'clock in the evening, Mr. Pickwick himselfwalked into the coffee-room of the Bush Tavern, and told Samwith a smile, to his very great relief, that he had done quiteright, and it was unnecessary for him to mount guard any longer.

'I thought it better to come myself,' said Mr. Pickwick,addressing Mr. Winkle, as Sam disencumbered him of his great-coat and travelling-shawl, 'to ascertain, before I gave my consentto Sam's employment in this matter, that you are quite in earnestand serious, with respect to this young lady.'

'Serious, from my heart--from my soul!'returned Mr. Winkle,with great energy.

'Remember,' said Mr. Pickwick, with beaming eyes, 'we mether at our excellent and hospitable friend's, Winkle. It would bean ill return to tamper lightly, and without due consideration,with this young lady's affections. I'll not allow that, sir. I'll notallow it.'

'I have no such intention, indeed,' exclaimed Mr. Winklewarmly. 'I have considered the matter well, for a long time, andI feel that my happiness is bound up in her.'

'That's wot we call tying it up in a small parcel, sir,' interposedMr. Weller, with an agreeable smile.

Mr. Winkle looked somewhat stern at this interruption, andMr. Pickwick angrily requested his attendant not to jest with oneof the best feelings of our nature; to which Sam replied, 'That hewouldn't, if he was aware on it; but there were so many on 'em, thathe hardly know'd which was the best ones wen he heerd 'em mentioned.'

Mr. Winkle then recounted what had passed between himselfand Mr. Ben Allen, relative to Arabella; stated that his object wasto gain an interview with the young lady, and make a formaldisclosure of his passion; and declared his conviction, foundedon certain dark hints and mutterings of the aforesaid Ben, that,wherever she was at present immured, it was somewhere near theDowns. And this was his whole stock of knowledge or suspicionon the subject.

With this very slight clue to guide him, it was determined thatMr. Weller should start next morning on an expedition ofdiscovery; it was also arranged that Mr. Pickwick and Mr.Winkle, who were less confident of their powers, should paradethe town meanwhile, and accidentally drop in upon Mr. BobSawyer in the course of the day, in the hope of seeing or hearingsomething of the young lady's whereabouts.

Accordingly, next morning, Sam Weller issued forth upon hisquest, in no way daunted by the very discouraging prospectbefore him; and away he walked, up one street and down another--we were going to say, up one hill and down another, only it'sall uphill at Clifton--without meeting with anything or anybodythat tended to throw the faintest light on the matter in hand.Many were the colloquies into which Sam entered with groomswho were airing horses on roads, and nursemaids who wereairing children in lanes; but nothing could Sam elicit from eitherthe first-mentioned or the last, which bore the slightest referenceto the object of his artfully-prosecuted inquiries. There were agreat many young ladies in a great many houses, the greater partwhereof were shrewdly suspected by the male and femaledomestics to be deeply attached to somebody, or perfectly readyto become so, if opportunity afforded. But as none among theseyoung ladies was Miss Arabella Allen, the information leftSam at exactly the old point of wisdom at which he had stood before.

Title: The Pickwick Papers
Author: Charles Dickens
Viewed 262637 times

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