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2G0 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF
Mr. Pickwick repeated his request.
" This is a most extraordinary request," said the magistrate — " A private interview !"
" A private interview," replied Mr. Pickwick, firmly ; « only as a part of the information which I wish to communicate is derived from my servant, I should wish him to be present."
The magistrate looked at Mr. Jinks, Mr. Jinks looked at the magistrate, and the officers looked at each other in amazement. Mr. Nupkins turned suddenly pale. Could the man Weller, in a moment of remorse, have divulged some secret conspiracy for his assassination ? It was a dreadful thought. He was a public man ; and he turned paler, as he thought of Julius Caesar and Mr. Perceval.
The magistrate looked at Mr. Pickwick again, and beckoned Mr. Jinks.
" What do you think of this request, Mr. Jinks ?" murmured Mr. Nupkins.
Mr. Jinks, who didn't exactly know what to think of it, and was afraid he might offend, smiled feebly, after a dubious fashion, and, screwing up the corners of his mouth, shook his head slowly from side to side.
" Mr. Jinks," said the magistrate, gravely, " you are an ass. Sir."
At this little expression of opinion, Mr. Jink$ smiled again — rather more feebly than before — and edged himself, by degrees, back into his own corner.
Mr. Nupkins debated the matter within himself for a few seconds, and then, rising from his chair, and requesting Mr. Pickwick and Sam to follow him, led the way into a small room which opened into the justice parlour. Desiring Mr. Pickwick to walk to the further end of the little apartment, and holding his hand upon the half-closed door, that he might be able to effect an immediate escape, in case there was the least tendency to a display of hostilities, Mr. Nupkins expressed his readiness to hear the communication, whatever it might be.
- ' I will come to the point at once, Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, ^' it
affects yourself, and your credit, materially. I have every reason to believe. Sir, that you are harbouring in your house, a gross impostor ! "
" Two," interrupted Sam, " Mulberry agin all natur, for tears and wiljainny."
" Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, " if I am to render myself intelligible to this gentleman, I must beg you to controul your feelings."
•' Wery sorry. Sir," Feplied Mr. Weller ; " but when I think o' that 'ere Job, I can't help opening the waive a inch or two."
" In one word. Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, " is my servant right in sus- pecting that a certain Captain Fitz-Marshall is in the habit of visiting here ? Because," added Mr. Pickwick, as he saw that Mr. Nupkins was about to offer a very indignant interruption — " because, if he be, I know that person to be a — "
" Hush, hush," said Mr. Nupkins, closing the door. " Know him to be what. Sir?"
- ' An unprincipled adventurer — a dishonourable character — a man
