登陆注册
5170700000298

第298章

"I'm glad of it," said Lowten."We were keeping it up pretty tolerably at the Stump last night, and I'm rather out of sorts this morning.Perker's been about that business of yours, by the bye.""What business?" inquired Mr.Pickwick."Mrs.Bardell's costs?""No, I don't mean that," replied Mr.Lowten."About getting that customer that we paid the ten shillings in the pound to the bill discounter for, on your account--to get him out of the Fleet, you know--about getting him to Demerara.""Oh! Mr.Jingle!" said Mr.Pickwick, hastily."Yes.Well?""Well, it's all arranged," said Lowten, mending his pen."The agent at Liverpool said he had been obliged to you many times when you were in business, and he would be glad to take him on your recommendation.""That's well," said Mr.Pickwick."I am delighted to hear it.""But I say," resumed Lowten, scraping the back of the pen preparatory to making a fresh split, " what a soft chap that other is!""Which other?"

"Why, that servant, or friend, or whatever he is; you know; Trotter.""Ah?" said Mr.Pickwick, with a smile."I always thought him the reverse.""Well, and so did I, from what little I saw of him," replied Lowten, "it only shows how one may be deceived.What do you think of his going to Demerara, too?""What! And giving up what was offered him here!" exclaimed Mr.Pickwick.

"Treating Perker's offer of eighteen bob a-week, and a rise if he behaved himself, like dirt," replied Lowten."He said he must go along with the other one, and so they persuaded Perker to write again, and they've got him something on the same estate; not near so good, Perker says, as a convict would get in New South Wales, if he appeared at his trial in a new suit of clothes.""Foolish fellow," said Mr.Pickwick, with glistening eyes."Foolish fellow.""Oh, it's worse than foolish; it's downright sneaking, you know," replied Lowten, nibbing the pen with a contemptuous face."He says that he's the only friend he ever had, and he's attached to him, and all that.Friendship's a very good thing in its way: we are all very friendly and comfortable at the Stump, for instance, over our grog, where every man pays for himself;but damn hurting yourself for anybody else, you know! No man should have more than two attachments--the first, to number one, and the second to the ladies; that's what I say--ha! ha!" Mr.Lowten concluded with a loud laugh, half in jocularity, and half in derision, which was prematurely cut short by the sound of Perker's footsteps on the stairs: at the first approach of which, he vaulted on his stool with an agility most remarkable, and wrote intensely.

The greeting between Mr.Pickwick and his professional adviser was warm and cordial; the client was scarcely ensconced in the attorney's arm chair, however, when a knock was heard at the door, and a voice inquired whether Mr.Perker was within.

"Hark!" said Perker, "that's one of our vagabond friends--Jingle himself, my dear sir.Will you see him?""What do you think?" inquired Mr.Pickwick, hesitating.

"Yes, I think you had better.Here, you sir, what's your name, walk in, will you?"In compliance with this unceremonious invitation, Jingle and Job walked into the room, but, seeing Mr.Pickwick, stopped short in some confusion.

"Well," said Perker, "don't you know that gentleman?""Good reason to," replied Mr.Jingle, stepping forward."Mr.Pickwick--deepest obligations--life preserver--made a man of me--you shall never repent it, sir.""I am happy to hear you say so," said Mr.Pickwick."You look much better.""Thanks to you, sir--great change--Majesty's Fleet--unwholesome place--very,"said Jingle, shaking his head.He was decently and cleanly dressed, and so was Job, who stood bolt upright behind him, staring at Mr.Pickwick with a visage of iron.

"When do they go to Liverpool?" inquired Mr.Pickwick, half aside to Perker.

"This evening, sir, at seven o'clock," said Job, taking one step forward.

"By the heavy coach from the city, sir."

"Are your places taken?"

"They are, sir," replied Job.

"You have fully made up your mind to go?""I have, sir," answered Job.

"With regard to such an outfit as was indispensable for Jingle," said Perker, addressing Mr.Pickwick aloud, "I have taken upon myself to make an arrangement for the deduction of a small sum from his quarterly salary, which, being made only for one year, and regularly remitted, will provide for that expense.I entirely disapprove of your doing anything for him, my dear sir, which is not dependent on his own exertions and good conduct.""Certainly," interposed Jingle, with great firmness."Clear head--man of the world--quite right--perfectly.""By compounding with his creditor, releasing his clothes from the pawnbroker's, relieving him in prison, and paying for his passage," continued Perker, without noticing Jingle's observation, "you have already lost upwards of fifty pounds.""Not lost," said Jingle, hastily."Pay it all--stick to business--cash up--every farthing.Yellow fever, perhaps--can't help that--if not--" Here Mr.Jingle paused, and striking the crown of his hat with great violence, passed his hand over his eyes, and sat down.

同类推荐
  • 鉴湖说

    鉴湖说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大乘理趣六波罗蜜多经序

    大乘理趣六波罗蜜多经序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Those Extraordinary Twins

    Those Extraordinary Twins

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 采华连王上佛受决经

    采华连王上佛受决经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明儒学案

    明儒学案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 中华健脑菜

    中华健脑菜

    本书详细讲解了日常生活中最常用的众多健脑食物及其营养成分、养生功效、烹调应用、搭配宜忌,及以这些食物为主料烹制的多道家常菜肴。这些菜普均介绍了详细的制作方法、食用方法及功效,让您既享受到美味,又增加了营养。书中还阐述了脑的生理结构和功能,以及健脑原则和饮食调理方法,帮助您用科学的方法健脑补脑。
  • 凤谋天下:冷宫祸妃夺君宠

    凤谋天下:冷宫祸妃夺君宠

    姐姐是才女,妹妹是美女,而她,只不过是凑个水家三女之数。姐姐嫁大将军的婚礼上,却惹上了他,冷面残暴的宸王爷。他一句“女人,你觉得本王怎么样?”她一句“王爷很缺女人?”从此,生死纠缠。
  • 王妃许三贪

    王妃许三贪

    谁是大昭国名号最响的女人?是三岁成诗七岁成章十五岁PK掉所有男人成为第一位女状元的司马皇后?错!是纵横十三省九百八十一家青楼的花魁雪姬?更错!让我们一起来揭晓这个伟大的谜底吧!!!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 清季申报台湾纪事辑录

    清季申报台湾纪事辑录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 魅上龙皇:弃妃,请自重!

    魅上龙皇:弃妃,请自重!

    一个腹黑冷情的现代女汉子,穿越成爹不疼后娘害的软妹纸!遇上霸道冷酷武宣王,只手遮天、权倾朝野,传闻说,他睡过的女人比吃过的饭都多,可是他竟对她痴缠不止,他说,女人,你,本王很满意,赐你王妃之位以资勉励。【第一次见面】傅子轩:听侍卫说,你倾慕于本王。秦落烟:不,准确的来说,是我想独占你。喜欢和独占,还是有很大区别的。【第二次见面】秦落烟:你这裤子很碍眼。傅子轩:该死,我要杀了你!
  • 长得漂亮不如说得漂亮:女人享用一生的口才书

    长得漂亮不如说得漂亮:女人享用一生的口才书

    一个女人可以生得不漂亮,但是一定要说得漂亮。无论什么时候,渊博的知识、良好的修养、文明的举止、优雅的谈吐、出口不凡的表达,一定可以让她活得足够漂亮,一个女人只要口才佳,相信没有谁可以阻碍她幸福的脚步。
  • 红颜非祸水

    红颜非祸水

    五岁,他将她从死人堆里救出,承诺保护她一生。十八岁,他将她逐出师门,却又跟着她跳下悬崖。二十岁,他将剑刺入她的胸膛,然后服下断肠散。二十一岁,他和她被正派围攻,她为他变成魔头。铁链穿透琵琶骨,石牢锁住孱弱身,她被伤到体无完肤。这一次,换他用深情将她追回。
  • 奥术世纪

    奥术世纪

    神性璀璨的光辉年代已经远去,诸神的荣光正在变得暗淡,但在这灰暗年代中,那星星点点属于人的光辉正变得越发灿烂,真正属于人的力量正在发展、壮大。而诸神又怎会甘于衰落?不甘于衰落的诸神开始用手中的力量搅动战争的车轮,祂们妄想让神权继续统治世界,让黑暗继续笼罩大地,让愚昧继续充斥人间。但奥术的光辉终将驱散所有黑暗,照耀出一整个盛世纪元,这是属于人的纪元,此为奥术世纪!
  • 白雪公主(语文新课标课外读物)

    白雪公主(语文新课标课外读物)

    现代中、小学生不能只局限于校园和课本,应该广开视野,广长见识,广泛了解博大的世界和社会,不断增加丰富的现代社会知识和世界信息,才有所精神准备,才能迅速地长大,将来才能够自由地翱翔于世界蓝天。否则,我们将永远是妈妈怀抱中的乖宝宝,将永远是温室里面的豆芽菜,那么,我们将怎样走向社会、走向世界呢?
  • 斩仙诀

    斩仙诀

    道义,一个至地狱归来的青年,携逆天功诀与血海深仇,踏上了一条血浴之路,展开了一段霸道人生,誓完成一段逆天之旅。一人一枪,独挑九界,斩仙魔,屠神圣,只为成为那万古流传的亘古一帝——混元无极太上圣帝!【热血仙侠风,暧昧请绕道】