Whats the row, Sam? inquired one gentleman in black calico sleeves.
Row! replied the cabman, what did he want my number for?
I didnt want your number, said the astonished Mr. Pickwick.
What did you take it for, then? inquired the cabman.
I didnt take it, said Mr. Pickwick indignantly.
Would anybody believe, continued the cab-driver, appealing to the crowd, would anybody believe as an informerud go about in a mans cab, not only takin down his number, but evry 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 Ill give it him, if Ive 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. Pickwicks spectacles off, and followed up the attack with a blow on Mr. Pickwicks nose, and another on Mr. Pickwicks chest, and a third in Mr. Snodgrasss eye, and a fourth, by way of variety, in Mr. Tupmans 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. Winkles body; and all in half a dozen seconds.
Wheres 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-vendors 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.
Whats the fun? said a rather tall, thin, young man, in a green coat, emerging suddenly from the coach-yard.
Informers! shouted the crowd again.
We are not, roared Mr. Pickwick, in a tone which, to any dispassionate listener, carried conviction with it.
Aint you, though aint you? said the young man, appealing to Mr. Pickwick, and making his way through the crowd by the infallible process of elbowing the countenances of its component members.
That learned man in a few hurried words explained the real state of the case.
Come along, then, said he of the green coat, lugging Mr. Pickwick after him by main force, and talking the whole way. Here, No. 924, take your fare, and take yourself off respectable gentleman know him well none of your nonsense this way, sir wheres your friends? all a mistake, I see never mind accidents will happen best regulated families never say die down upon your luck Pull him up Put that in his pipe like the flavour damned rascals. And with a lengthened string of similar broken sentences, delivered with extraordinary volubility, the stranger led the way to the travellers waiting-room, whither he was closely followed by Mr. Pickwick and his disciples.
Here, waiter! shouted the stranger, ringing the bell with tremendous violence, glasses round brandy-and-water, hot and strong, and sweet, and plenty, eye damaged, Sir? Waiter! raw beef-steak for the gentlemans eye nothing like raw beef-steak for a bruise, sir; cold lamp-post very good, but lamp-post inconvenient damned odd standing in the open street half an hour, with your eye against a lamp-post eh, very good ha! ha! And the stranger, without stopping to take breath, swallowed at a draught full half a pint of the reeking brandy-and-water, and flung himself into a chair with as much ease as if nothing uncommon had occurred.
While his three companions were busily engaged in proffering their thanks to their new acquaintance, Mr. Pickwick had leisure to examine his costume and appearance.
He was about the middle height, but the thinness of his body, and the length of his legs, gave him the appearance of being much taller. The green coat had been a smart dress garment in the days of swallow-tails, but had evidently in those times adorned a much shorter man than the stranger, for the soiled and faded sleeves scarcely reached to his wrists. It was buttoned closely up to his chin, at the imminent hazard of splitting the back; and an old stock, without a vestige of shirt collar, ornamented his neck. His scanty black trousers displayed here and there those shiny patches which bespeak long service, and were strapped very tightly over a pair of patched and mended shoes, as if to conceal the dirty white stockings, which were nevertheless distinctly visible. His long, black hair escaped in negligent waves from beneath each side of his old pinched-up hat; and glimpses of his bare wrists might be observed between the tops of his gloves and the cuffs of his coat sleeves. His face was thin and haggard; but an indescribable air of jaunty impudence and perfect self-possession pervaded the whole man.
Such was the individual on whom Mr. Pickwick gazed through his spectacles (which he had fortunately recovered), and to whom he proceeded, when his friends had exhausted themselves, to return in chosen terms his warmest thanks for his recent assistance.
Never mind, said the stranger, cutting the address very short, said enough no more; smart chap that cabman handled his fives well; but if Id been your friend in the green jemmy damn me punch his head, cod I would, pigs whisper pieman too, no gammon.
This coherent speech was interrupted by the entrance of the Rochester coachman, to announce that the Commodore was on the point of starting.
Commodore! said the stranger, starting up, my coach place booked, one outside leave you to pay for the brandy-and-water, want change for a five, bad silver Brummagem buttons wont do no go eh? and he shook his head most knowingly.
Now it so happened that Mr. Pickwick and his three companions had resolved to make Rochester their first halting-place too; and having intimated to their new-found acquaintance that they were journeying to the same city, they agreed to occupy the seat at the back of the coach, where they could all sit together.
Up with you, said the stranger, assisting Mr. Pickwick on to the roof with so much precipitation as to impair the gravity of that gentlemans deportment very materially.
Any luggage, Sir? inquired the coachman.
Who I? Brown paper parcel here, thats all other luggage gone by water packing-cases, nailed up big as houses heavy, heavy, damned heavy, replied the stranger, as he forced into his pocket as much as he could of the brown paper parcel, which presented most suspicious indications of containing one shirt and a handkerchief.
Heads, heads take care of your heads! cried the loquacious stranger, as they came out under the low archway, which in those days formed the entrance to the coach-yard. Terrible place dangerous work other day five children mother tall lady, eating sandwiches forgot the arch crash knock children look round mothers head off sandwich in her hand no mouth to put it in head of a family off shocking, shocking! Looking at Whitehall, sir? fine place little window somebody elses head off there, eh, sir? he didnt keep a sharp look-out enough either eh, Sir, eh?
I am ruminating, said Mr. Pickwick, on the strange mutability of human affairs.
Ah! I see in at the palace door one day, out at the window the next. Philosopher, Sir?
An observer of human nature, Sir, said Mr. Pickwick.
Ah, so am I. Most people are when theyve little to do and less to get. Poet, Sir?
My friend Mr. Snodgrass has a strong poetic turn, said Mr. Pickwick.
So have I, said the stranger. Epic poem ten thousand lines revolution of July composed it on the spot Mars by day, Apollo by night bang the field-piece, twang the lyre.
You were present at that glorious scene, sir? said Mr. Snodgrass.
Present! think I was;1 fired a musket fired with an idea rushed into wine shop wrote it down back again whiz, bang another idea wine shop again pen and ink back again cut and slash noble time, Sir. Sportsman, sir? abruptly turning to Mr. Winkle.
A little, Sir, replied that gentleman.
Fine pursuit, sir fine pursuit. Dogs, Sir?
Not just now, said Mr. Winkle.
Ah! you should keep dogs fine animals sagacious creatures dog of my own once pointer surprising instinct out shooting one day entering inclosure whistled dog stopped whistled again Ponto no go; stock still called him Ponto, Ponto wouldnt move dog transfixed staring at a board looked up, saw an inscription Gamekeeper has orders to shoot all dogs found in this inclosure wouldnt pass it wonderful dog valuable dog that very.
Singular circumstance that, said Mr. Pickwick. Will you allow me to make a note of it?
Certainly, Sir, certainly hundred more anecdotes of the same animal. Fine girl, Sir (to Mr. Tracy Tupman, who had been bestowing sundry anti-Pickwickian glances on a young lady by the roadside).
Very! said Mr. Tupman.
English girls not so fine as Spanish noble creatures jet hair black eyes lovely forms sweet creatures beautiful.
You have been in Spain, sir? said Mr. Tracy Tupman.
Lived there ages.
Many conquests, sir? inquired Mr. Tupman.
Conquests! Thousands. Don Bolaro Fizzgig grandee only daughter Donna Christina splendid creature loved me to distraction jealous father high-souled daughter handsome Englishman Donna Christina in despair prussic acid stomach pump in my portmanteau operation performed old Bolaro in ecstasies consent to our union join hands and floods of tears romantic story very.
Is the lady in England now, sir? inquired Mr. Tupman, on whom the description of her charms had produced a powerful impression.
Dead, sir dead, said the stranger, applying to his right eye the brief remnant of a very old cambric handkerchief. Never recovered the stomach pump undermined constitution fell a victim.
And her father? inquired the poetic Snodgrass.
Remorse and misery, replied the stranger. Sudden disappearance talk of the whole city search made everywhere without success public fountain in the great square suddenly ceased playing weeks elapsed still a stoppage workmen employed to clean it water drawn off father-in-law discovered sticking head first in the main pipe, with a full confession in his right boot took him out, and the fountain played away again, as well as ever.
Will you allow me to note that little romance down, Sir? said Mr. Snodgrass, deeply affected.
Certainly, Sir, certainly fifty more if you like to hear em strange life mine rather curious history not extraordinary, but singular.
In this strain, with an occasional glass of ale, by way of parenthesis, when the coach changed horses, did the stranger proceed, until they reached Rochester bridge, by which time the note-books, both of Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Snodgrass, were completely filled with selections from his adventures.
Magnificent ruin! said Mr. Augustus Snodgrass, with all the poetic fervour that distinguished him, when they came in sight of the fine old castle.
What a study for an antiquarian! were the very words which fell from Mr. Pickwicks mouth, as he applied his telescope to his eye.
Ah! fine place, said the stranger, glorious pile frowning walls tottering arches dark nooks crumbling staircases old cathedral too earthy smell pilgrims feet wore away the old steps little Saxon doors confessionals like money-takers boxes at theatres queer customers those monks popes, and lord treasurers, and all sorts of old fellows, with great red faces, and broken noses, turning up every day buff jerkins too match-locks sarcophagus fine place old legends too strange stories: capital; and the stranger continued to soliloquise until they reached the Bull Inn, in the High Street, where the coach stopped.
Do you remain here, Sir? inquired Mr. Nathaniel Winkle.
Here not I but youd better good house nice beds Wrights next house, dear very dear half-a-crown in the bill if you look at the waiter charge you more if you dine at a friends than they would if you dined in the coffee-room rum fellows very.
Mr. Winkle turned to Mr. Pickwick, and murmured a few words; a whisper passed from Mr. Pickwick to Mr. Snodgrass, from Mr. Snodgrass to Mr. Tupman, and nods of assent were exchanged. Mr. Pickwick addressed the stranger.
You rendered us a very important service this morning, sir, said he, will you allow us to offer a slight mark of our gratitude by begging the favour of your company at dinner?
Great pleasure not presume to dictate, but broiled fowl and mushrooms capital thing! What time?
Let me see, replied Mr. Pickwick, referring to his watch, it is now nearly three. Shall we say five?
Suit me excellently, said the stranger, five precisely till then care of yourselves; and lifting the pinched-up hat a few inches from his head, and carelessly replacing it very much on one side, the stranger, with half the brown paper parcel sticking out of his pocket, walked briskly up the yard, and turned into the High Street.
Evidently a traveller in many countries, and a close observer of men and things, said Mr. Pickwick.
I should like to see his poem, said Mr. Snodgrass.
I should like to have seen that dog, said Mr. Winkle.
Mr. Tupman said nothing; but he thought of Donna Christina, the stomach pump, and the fountain; and his eyes filled with tears.
A private sitting-room having been engaged, bedrooms inspected, and dinner ordered, the party walked out to view the city and adjoining neighbourhood.
We do not find, from a careful perusal of Mr. Pickwicks notes of the four towns, Stroud, Rochester, Chatham, and Brompton, that his impressions of their appearance differ in any material point from those of other travellers who have gone over the same ground. His general description is easily abridged.
The principal productions of these towns, says Mr. Pickwick, appear to be soldiers, sailors, Jews, chalk, shrimps, officers, and dockyard men. The commodities chiefly exposed for sale in the public streets are marine stores, hard-bake, apples, flat-fish, and oysters. The streets present a lively and animated appearance, occasioned chiefly by the conviviality of the military. It is truly delightful to a philanthropic mind to see these gallant men staggering along under the influence of an overflow both of animal and ardent spirits; more especially when we remember that the following them about, and jesting with them, affords a cheap and innocent amusement for the boy population. Nothing, adds Mr. Pickwick, can exceed their good-humour. It was but the day before my arrival that one of them had been most grossly insulted in the house of a publican. The barmaid had positively refused to draw him any more liquor; in return for which he had (merely in playfulness) drawn his bayonet, and wounded the girl in the shoulder. And yet this fine fellow was the very first to go down to the house next morning and express his readiness to overlook the matter, and forget what had occurred!