582 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF
grins, and winks, were so many condescending assurances that they might depend upon his fidelity. As these tokens were rather calcu- lated to awaken suspicion than allay it, and were somewhat embarrass- ing besides, they v/ere occasionally answered by a frown or shake of the head from Arabella, which the fat boy considering as hints to be on his guard, expressed his perfect understanding of, by smirking, grinning, and winking, with redoubled assiduity.
" Joe," said Mr. Wardle after an unsuccessful search in all his pockets, ^^ is my snutf-box on the sofa ? "
" No, Sir," replied the fat boy.
" Oh, I recollect ; I left it on my dressing table this morning," said Wardle. " Run into the next room and fetch it."
The fat boy went into the next room, and having been absent about a minute, returned with the snuff-box and the palest face that ever a fat boy wore.
'* What's the matter with the boy !" exclaimed Wardle,
•'^ Nothen's the matter with me," replied Joe, nervously.
" Have you been seeing any spirits ? " enquired the old gentleman.
^' Or taking any ? " added Ben Allen.
- I think you're right," whispered Wardle across the table. ^'^He is
intoxicated, I'm sure."
Ben Allen replied that he thought he Avas ; and as that gentleman had seen a vast deal of the disease in question, Wardle was confirmed in an impression which had been hovering about his mind for half an hour, and at once arrived at the conclusion that the fat boy was very drunk.
"Just keep your eye upon him for a few minutes," murmured Wardle. " We shall soon find out whether he is or not."
The unfortunate youth had only interchanged a dozen words with Mr. Snodgrass, that gentleman having implored him to make a private appeal to some friend to release him, and then pushed him out with the snuff'-box, lest his prolonged absence should lead to a discovery. He ruminated a little with a most disturbed expression of face, and left the room in search of Mary.
But Mary had gone home after dressing her mistress, and the fat boy came back again, more disturbed than before.
Wardle and Mr. Ben Allen exchanged glances.
- ^ Zo^" said Wardle.
" Yes, sir."
'^ What did you go away for?"
The fat boy looked hopelessly in the face of everybody at table, and stammered out that he didn't know.
" Oh," said Wardle, "you don't know, eh.? Take this cheese to Mr. Pickwick."
Now, Mr. Pickwick being in the very best health and spirits, had been making himself perfectly delightful all dinner-time, and was at this moment engaged in an energetic conversation with Emily and Mr. Winkle ; bowing his head courteously in the emphasis of his discourse, gently waving his left hand to lend force to his observations, and all glowing with placid smiles. He took a piece of cheese from the plate.
