THE PICKWICK CLUB. 567
- ' He means to say, said Job, advancing a few paces, *' that if
he is not carried off by the fever, he will pay the money back again. If he lives, he will^ Mr. Pickwick. I will see it done. I know he will, Sir," said Job, with great energy. " I could undertake to swear it."
'* Well, well," said Mr. Pickwick, who had been bestowing a score or two of frowns upon Perker, to stop his summary of benefits con- ferred, which the little attorney obstinately disregarded, " you must be careful not to play any more desperate cricket matches, Mr. Jingle, or to renew your acquaintance with Sir Thomas Blazo, and I have little doubt of your preserving your health."
Mr. Jingle smiled at this sally, but looked rather foolish notwith- standing, so Mr. Pickwick changed the subject by saying,
'* You don't happen to know, do you, what has become of another friend of yours— a more humble one, whom I saw at Rochester .f*"
- ' Dismal Jemmy ? " enquired Jingle.
"Yes."
Jingle shook his head.
" Clever rascal — queer fellow, hoaxing genius — Job's brother."
- ' Job's brother ! " exclaimed Mr. Pickwick. " Well, now I look at
him closely, there is a likeness."
" We were always considered like each other, Sir," said Job, with a cunning look just lurking in the corners of his eyes, " only I was really of a serious nature, and he never was. He emigrated to America, Sir, in consequence of being too much sought after here, to be comfortable ; and has never been heard of since."
" That accounts for my not having received the ' page from the romance of real life,' which he promised me one morning when he appeared to be contemplating suicide on Rochester Bridge, J suppose," said iMr. Pickwick, smiling. " I need not enquire whether his dismal behaviour was natural or assumed."
- ' He could assume anything, Sir," said Job. "You may consider
yourself very fortunate in having escaped him so easily. On intimate terms he would have been even a more dangerous acquaintance than — " Job looked at Jingle, hesitated, and finally added, "than — than — myself even."
- • A hopeful family yours, Mr. Trotter," said Perker, sealing a letter
which he had just finished writing.
" Yes, Sir," replied Job. " Very much so."
"Well," said the little man, laughing; "I hope you are going to disgrace it. Deliver this letter to the agent when you reach Liver- pool, and let me advise you, gentlemen, not to be too knowing in the West Indies. If you throw away this chance, you will both richly deserve to be hanged, as I sincerely trust you will be. And now you had better leave Mr. Pickwick and me alone, for we have other mat- ters to talk over, and time is precious." As Perker said this, he looked towards the door with an evident desire to render the leave-taking as brief as possible.
It was brief enough on Mr. Jingle's part. He thanked the little attorney in a few hurried words for the kindness and promptitude with
