Atthisanswer，whichwasdeliveredwithouttheslightestappearanceofirritation，andwiththemostcompletesimplicityandequanimityofmanner，thespectatorstittered，thelittlejudgesmiled，andSerjeantBuzfuzlookedparticularlyfoolish。AfterashortconsultationwithDodsonandFogg，thelearnedSerjeantagainturnedtowardsSam，andsaid，withapainfulefforttoconcealhisvexation，Now，Mr。Weller，I’llaskyouaquestiononanotherpoint，ifyouplease。
Ifyouplease，sir，rejoinedSam，withtheutmostgood-humour。
DoyouremembergoinguptoMrs。Bardell’shouse，onenightinNovemberlast？
Ohyes，verywell。
Oh，youdorememberthat，Mr。Weller，saidSerjeantBuzfuz，recoveringhisspirits。Ithoughtweshouldgetatsomethingatlast。
Iraytherthoughtthat，too，sir，repliedSam。andatthisthespectatorstitteredagain。
Well。Isupposeyouwentuptohavealittletalkaboutthistrial——eh，Mr。Weller？saidSerjeantBuzfuz，lookingknowinglyatthejury。
Iwentuptopaytherent。butwedidgetatalkin’aboutthetrial，repliedSam。
Oh，youdidgetatalkingaboutthetrial，saidSerjeantBuzfuz，brighteningupwiththeanticipationofsomeimportantdiscovery。Nowwhatpassedaboutthetrial。willyouhavethegoodnesstotellus，Mr。Weller？
Vithallthepleasureinlife，sir，repliedSam。Arterafewunimportantobserwationsfromthetwowirtuousfemalesashasbeenexaminedhereto-day，theladiesgetsintoaverygreatstateo’admirationatthehonourableconductofMr。DodsonandFogg——themtwogen’l’menasissettin’nearyounow。This，ofcourse，drewgeneralattentiontoDodsonandFogg，wholookedasvirtuousaspossible。
Theattorneysfortheplaintiff，saidMr。SerjeantBuzfuz。Well！
TheyspokeinhighpraiseofthehonourableconductofMessrs。DodsonandFogg，theattorneysfortheplaintiff，didthey？
Yes，saidSam，theysaidwhatawerygen’rousthingitwaso’themtohavetakenupthecaseonspec，andtochargenothingatallforcosts，unlesstheygot’emoutofMr。Pickwick。
Atthisveryunexpectedreply，thespectatorstitteredagain，andDodsonandFogg，turningveryred，leantovertoSerjeantBuzfuz，andinahurriedmannerwhisperedsomethinginhisear。
Youarequiteright，saidSerjeantBuzfuzaloud，withaffectedcomposure。
It’sperfectlyuseless，mylord，attemptingtogetatanyevidencethroughtheimpenetrablestupidityofthiswitness。Iwillnottroublethecourtbyaskinghimanymorequestions。Standdown，sir。
Wouldanyothergen’l’manliketoaskmeanythin’？inquiredSam，takinguphishat，andlookingroundmostdeliberately。
NotI，Mr。Weller，thankyou，saidSerjeantSnubbin，laughing。
Youmaygodown，sir，saidSerjeantBuzfuz，wavinghishandimpatiently。
Samwentdownaccordingly，afterdoingMessrs。DodsonandFogg’scaseasmuchharmasheconvenientlycould，andsayingjustaslittlerespectingMr。Pickwickasmightbe，whichwaspreciselytheobjecthehadhadinviewallalong。
Ihavenoobjectiontoadmit，mylord，saidSerjeantSnubbin，ifitwillsavetheexaminationofanotherwitness，thatMr。Pickwickhasretiredfrombusiness，andisagentlemanofconsiderableindependentproperty。
Verywell，saidSerjeantBuzfuz，puttinginthetwoletterstoberead，Thenthat’smycase，mylord。
SerjeantSnubbinthenaddressedthejuryonbehalfofthedefendant。
andaverylongandaveryemphaticaddresshedelivered，inwhichhebestowedthehighestpossibleeulogiumsontheconductandcharacterofMr。Pickwick。
butinasmuchasourreadersarefarbetterabletoformacorrectestimateofthatgentleman’smeritsanddeserts，thanSerjeantSnubbincouldpossiblybe，wedonotfeelcalledupontoenteratanylengthintothelearnedgentleman’sobservations。Heattemptedtoshowthattheletterswhichhadbeenexhibited，merelyrelatedtoMr。Pickwick’sdinner，ortothepreparationsforreceivinghiminhisapartmentsonhisreturnfromsomecountryexcursion。
Itissufficienttoaddingeneralterms，thathedidthebesthecouldforMr。Pickwick。andthebest，aseverybodyknows，ontheinfallibleauthorityoftheoldadage，coulddonomore。
Mr。JusticeStareleighsummedup，intheold-establishedandmostapprovedform。Hereadasmuchofhisnotestothejuryashecoulddecipheronsoshortanotice，andmaderunningcommentsontheevidenceashewentalong。IfMrs。Bardellwereright，itwasperfectlyclearthatMr。Pickwickwaswrong，andiftheythoughttheevidenceofMrs。Cluppinsworthyofcredencetheywouldbelieveit，and，iftheydidn’t，whytheywouldn’t。
Iftheyweresatisfiedthatabreachofpromiseofmarriagehadbeencommitted，theywouldfindfortheplaintiffwithsuchdamagesastheythoughtproper。
andif，ontheotherhand，itappearedtothemthatnopromiseofmarriagehadeverbeengiven，theywouldfindforthedefendantwithnodamagesatall。Thejurythenretiredtotheirprivateroomtotalkthematterover，andthejudgeretiredtohisprivateroom，torefreshhimselfwithamuttonchopandaglassofsherry。
Ananxiousquarterofanhourelapsed。thejurycameback。thejudgewasfetchedin。Mr。Pickwickputonhisspectacles，andgazedattheforemanwithanagitatedcountenanceandaquicklybeatingheart。
Gentlemen，saidtheindividualinblack，areyouallagreeduponyourverdict？
Weare，repliedtheforeman。
Doyoufindfortheplaintiff，gentlemen，orforthedefendant？
Fortheplaintiff。
Withwhatdamages，gentlemen？
Sevenhundredandfiftypounds。
Mr。Pickwicktookoffhisspectacles，carefullywipedtheglasses，foldedthemintotheircase，andputtheminhispocket。thenhavingdrawnonhisgloveswithgreatnicety，andstaredattheforemanallthewhile，hemechanicallyfollowedMr。Perkerandthebluebagoutofcourt。
TheystoppedinasideroomwhilePerkerpaidthecourtfees。andhere，Mr。Pickwickwasjoinedbyhisfriends。Here，too，heencounteredMessrs。
DodsonandFogg，rubbingtheirhandswitheverytokenofoutwardsatisfaction。
Well，gentlemen，saidMr。Pickwick。
Well，sir，saidDodson：forselfandpartner。
Youimagineyou’llgetyourcosts，don’tyou，gentlemen？saidMr。
Pickwick。
Foggsaidtheythoughtitratherprobable。Dodsonsmiled，andsaidthey’dtry。
Youmaytry，andtry，andtryagain，Messrs。DodsonandFogg，saidMr。Pickwickvehemently，butnotonefarthingofcostsordamagesdoyouevergetfromme，ifIspendtherestofmyexistenceinadebtor’sprison。
Ha，ha！laughedDodson。You’llthinkbetterofthat，beforenextterm，Mr。Pickwick。
He，he，he！We’llsoonseeaboutthat，Mr。Pickwick，grinnedFogg。
Speechlesswithindignation，Mr。Pickwickallowedhimselftobeledbyhissolicitorandfriendstothedoor，andthereassistedintoahackney-coach，whichhadbeenfetchedforthepurpose，bytheeverwatchfulSamWeller。
Samhadputupthesteps，andwaspreparingtojumpuponthebox，whenhefelthimselfgentlytouchedontheshoulder。andlookinground，hisfatherstoodbeforehim。Theoldgentleman’scountenanceworeamournfulexpression，asheshookhisheadgravely，andsaid，inwarningaccents：
Iknow’dwhat’udcomeo’thisheremodeo’doin’bisness。OhSammy，Sammy，vyworn’tthereaalleybi！
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter35[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXXXVINWHICHMR。PICKWICKTHINKSHEHADBETTERGOTO
BATH。ANDGOESACCORDINGLY
BUTsurely，mydearsir，saidlittlePerker，ashestoodinMr。Pickwick’sapartmentonthemorningafterthetrial：
Surelyyoudon’treallymean——reallyandseriouslynow，andirritationapart——thatyouwon’tpaythesecostsanddamages？
Notonehalfpenny，saidMr。Pickwick，firmly。notonehalfpenny。
Hooroarfortheprinciple，asthemoney-lendersaidvenhevouldn’trenewthebill，observedMr。Weller，whowasclearingawaythebreakfastthings。
Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，havethegoodnesstostepdown-stairs。Cert’nly，sir，repliedMr。Weller。andactingonMr。Pickwick’sgentlehint，Samretired。
No，Perker，saidMr。Pickwick，withgreatseriousnessofmanner，myfriendshere，haveendeavouredtodissuademefromthisdetermination，butwithoutavail。Ishallemploymyselfasusual，untiltheoppositepartyhavethepowerofissuingalegalprocessofexecutionagainstme。andiftheyarevileenoughtoavailthemselvesofit，andtoarrestmyperson，Ishallyieldmyselfupwithperfectcheerfulnessandcontentofheart。
Whencantheydothis？
Theycanissueexecution，mydearsir，fortheamountofthedamagesandtaxedcosts，nextterm，repliedPerker，justtwomonthshence，mydearsir。
Verygood，saidMr。Pickwick。Untilthattime，mydearfellow，letmehearnomoreofthematter。Andnow，continuedMr。Pickwick，lookingroundonhisfriendswithagood-humouredsmile，andasparkleintheeyewhichnospectaclescoulddimorconceal，theonlyquestionis，Whereshallwegonext？
Mr。TupmanandMr。Snodgrassweretoomuchaffectedbytheirfriend’sheroismtoofferanyreply。Mr。Winklehadnotyetsufficientlyrecoveredtherecollectionofhisevidenceatthetrial，tomakeanyobservationonanysubject，soMr。Pickwickpausedinvain。
Well，saidthatgentleman，ifyouleavemetosuggestourdestination，IsayBath。Ithinknoneofushaveeverbeenthere。
Nobodyhad。andasthepropositionwaswarmlysecondedbyPerker，whoconsidereditextremelyprobablethatifMr。Pickwicksawalittlechangeandgaietyhewouldbeinclinedtothinkbetterofhisdetermination，andworseofadebtor’sprison，itwascarriedunanimously：andSamwasatoncedispatchedtotheWhiteHorseCellar，totakefiveplacesbythehalf-pastseveno’clockcoach，nextmorning。
Therewerejusttwoplacestobehadinside，andjustthreetobehadout。soSamWellerbookedforthemall，andhavingexchangedafewcomplimentswiththebooking-officeclerkonthesubjectofapewterhalf-crownwhichwastenderedhimasaportionofhischange，walkedbacktotheGeorgeandVulture，wherehewasprettybusilyemployeduntilbed-timeinreducingclothesandlinenintothesmallestpossiblecompass，andexertinghismechanicalgeniusinconstructingavarietyofingeniousdevicesforkeepingthelidsonboxeswhichhadneitherlocksnorhinges。
Thenextwasaveryunpropitiousmorningforajourney——muggy，damp，anddrizzly。Thehorsesinthestagesthatweregoingout，andhadcomethroughthecity，weresmokingso，thattheoutsidepassengerswereinvisible。
Thenewspaper-sellerslookedmoist，andsmeltmouldy。thewetranoffthehatsoftheorange-vendersastheythrusttheirheadsintothecoachwindows，anddilutedtheinsidesinarefreshingmanner。TheJewswiththefiftybladedpenknivesshutthemupindespair。themenwiththepocket-booksmadepocket-booksofthem。Watch-guardsandtoasting-forkswerealikeatadiscount，andpencil-casesandspongewereadruginthemarket。
LeavingSamWellertorescuetheluggagefromthesevenoreightporterswhoflungthemselvessavagelyuponit，themomentthecoachstopped：andfindingthattheywereabouttwentyminutestooearly，Mr。Pickwickandhisfriendswentforshelterintothetravellers’room——thelastresourceofhumandejection。
Thetravellers’roomattheWhiteHorseCellarisofcourseuncomfortable。
itwouldbenotravellers’roomifitwerenot。Itistheright-handparlour，intowhichanaspiringkitchenfire-placeappearstohavewalked，accompaniedbyarebelliouspoker，tongs，andshovel。Itisdividedintoboxes，forthesolitaryconfinementoftravellers，andisfurnishedwithaclock，alooking-glass，andalivewaiter：whichlatterarticleiskeptinasmallkennelforwashingglasses，inacorneroftheapartment。
Oneoftheseboxeswasoccupied，onthisparticularoccasion，byastern-eyedmanofaboutfive-and-forty，whohadabaldandglossyforehead，withagooddealofblackhairatthesidesandbackofhishead，andlargeblackwhiskers。Hewasbuttoneduptothechininabrowncoat。andhadalargeseal-skintravellingcap，andagreat-coatandcloak，lyingontheseatbesidehim。HelookedupfromhisbreakfastasMr。Pickwickentered，withafierceandperemptoryair，whichwasverydignified。andhavingscrutinisedthatgentlemanandhiscompanionstohisentiresatisfaction，hummedatune，inamannerwhichseemedtosaythatherathersuspectedsomebodywantedtotakeadvantageofhim，butitwouldn’tdo。
Waiter，saidthegentlemanwiththewhiskers。
Sir？repliedamanwithadirtycomplexion，andatowelofthesame，emergingfromthekennelbeforementioned。
Somemoretoast。
Yes，sir。
Butteredtoast，mind，saidthegentleman，fiercely。
D’rectly，sir，repliedthewaiter。
Thegentlemanwiththewhiskershummedatuneinthesamemannerasbefore，andpendingthearrivalofthetoast，advancedtothefrontofthefire，and，takinghiscoattailsunderhisarms，lookedathisboots，andruminated。
IwonderwhereaboutsinBaththiscoachputsup，saidMr。Pickwick，mildlyaddressingMr。Winkle。
Hum——eh——what’sthat？saidthestrangeman。
Imadeanobservationtomyfriend，sir，repliedMr。Pickwick，alwaysreadytoenterintoconversation。IwonderedatwhathousetheBathcoachputup。Perhapsyoucaninformme。
AreyougoingtoBath？saidthestrangeman。
Iam，sir，repliedMr。Pickwick。
Andthoseothergentleman？
Theyaregoingalso，saidMr。Pickwick。
Notinside——I’llbedamnedifyou’regoinginside，saidthestrangeman。
Notallofus，saidMr。Pickwick。
No，notallofyou，saidthestrangemanemphatically。I’vetakentwoplaces。Iftheytrytosqueezesixpeopleintoaninfernalboxthatonlyholdsfour，I’lltakeapost-chaiseandbringanaction。I’vepaidmyfare。Itwon’tdo。ItoldtheclerkwhenItookmyplacesthatitwouldn’tdo。Iknowthesethingshavebeendone。Iknowtheyaredoneeveryday。
butIneverwasdone，andIneverwillbe。Thosewhoknowmebest，bestknowit。crushme！Herethefiercegentlemanrangthebellwithgreatviolence，andtoldthewaiterhe’dbetterbringthetoastinfiveseconds，orhe’dknowthereasonwhy。
Mygoodsir，saidMr。Pickwick，youwillallowmetoobservethatthisisaveryunnecessarydisplayofexcitement。Ihaveonlytakenplacesinsidefortwo。
Iamgladtohearit，saidthefierceman。Iwithdrawmyexpressions。
Itenderanapology。There’smycard。Givemeyouracquaintance。
Withgreatpleasure，sir，repliedMr。Pickwick。Wearetobefellowtravellers，andIhopeweshallfindeachother’ssocietymutuallyagreeable。
Ihopeweshall，saidthefiercegentleman。Iknowweshall。Ilikeyourlooks。theypleaseme。Gentlemen，yourhandsandnames。Knowme。
Ofcourse，aninterchangeoffriendlysalutationsfollowedthisgraciousspeech。andthefiercegentlemanimmediatelyproceededtoinformthefriends，inthesameshort，abrupt，jerkingsentences，thathisnamewasDowler。
thathewasgoingtoBathonpleasure。thathewasformerlyinthearmy。
thathehadnowsetupinbusinessasagentleman。thathelivedupontheprofits。andthattheindividualforwhomthesecondplacewastaken，wasapersonagenolessillustriousthanMrs。Dowlerhisladywife。
She’safinewoman，saidMr。Dowler。Iamproudofher。Ihavereason。
IhopeIshallhavethepleasureofjudging，saidMr。Pickwick，withasmile。
Youshall，repliedDowler。Sheshallknowyou。Sheshallesteemyou。
Icourtedherundersingularcircumstances。Iwonherthrougharashvow。
Thus。Isawher。Ilovedher。Iproposed。sherefusedme——`Youloveanother？’——`Sparemyblushes。’——`Iknowhim。’——`Youdo。’——`Verygood。ifheremainshere，I’llskinhim。’
Lordblessme！exclaimedMr。Pickwick，involuntarily。
Didyouskinthegentleman，sir？inquiredMr。Winkle，withaverypaleface。
Iwrotehimanote。Isaiditwasapainfulthing。Andsoitwas。
Certainly，interposedMr。Winkle。
IsaidIhadpledgedmywordasagentlemantoskinhim。Mycharacterwasatstake。Ihadnoalternative。AsanofficerinHisMajesty’sservice，Iwasboundtoskinhim。Iregrettedthenecessity，butitmustbedone。
Hewasopentoconviction。Hesawthattherulesoftheservicewereimperative。
Hefled。Imarriedher。Here’sthecoach。That’sherhead。
AsMr。Dowlerconcluded，hepointedtoastagewhichhadjustdrivenup，fromtheopenwindowofwhicharatherprettyfaceinabrightbluebonnetwaslookingamongthecrowdonthepavement：mostprobablyfortherashmanhimself。Mr。Dowlerpaidhisbillandhurriedoutwithhistravelling-cap，coat，andcloak。andMr。Pickwickandhisfriendsfollowedtosecuretheirplaces。
Mr。TupmanandMr。Snodgrasshadseatedthemselvesatthebackpartofthecoach。Mr。Winklehadgotinside。andMr。Pickwickwaspreparingtofollowhim，whenSamWellercameuptohismaster，andwhisperinginhisear，beggedtospeaktohim，withanairofthedeepestmystery。
Well，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，what’sthematternow？
Here’sraytherarumgo，sir，repliedSam。
What？inquiredMr。Pickwick。
Thishere，sir，rejoinedSam。I’mwerymuchafeerd，sir，thattheproprieatoro’thisherecoachisaplayin’someimperencevithus。
Howisthat，Sam？saidMr。Pickwick。aren’tthenamesdownontheway-bill？
Thenamesisnotonlydownonthevay-bill，sir，repliedSam，butthey’vepaintedvunon’emup，onthedooro’thecoach。AsSamspoke，hepointedtothatpartofthecoachdooronwhichtheproprietor’snameusuallyappears。andthere，sureenough，ingiltlettersofagoodlysize，wasthemagicnameofPICKWICK！
Dearme，exclaimedMr。Pickwick，quitestaggeredbythecoincidence。
whataveryextraordinarything！
Yes，butthatain’tall，saidSam，againdirectinghismaster’sattentiontothecoachdoor。notcontentvithwritin’upPickwick，theyputs`Moses’
aforeit，vichIcalladdin’insulttoinjury，astheparrotsaidventheynotonlytookhimfromhisnativeland，butmadehimtalktheEnglishlangwidgearterwards。
It’soddenoughcertainly，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。butifwestandtalkinghere，weshallloseourplaces。
Wot，ain’tnothin’tobedoneinconsequence，sir？exclaimedSam，perfectlyaghastatthecoolnesswithwhichMr。Pickwickappearedtoensconcehimselfinside。
Done！saidMr。Pickwick。Whatshouldbedone？
Ain’tnobodytobewhoppedfortakin’thishereliberty，sir？saidMr。Weller，whohadexpectedthatatleasthewouldhavebeencommissionedtochallengetheguardandcoachmantoapugilisticencounteronthespot。
Certainlynot，repliedMr。Pickwickeagerly。notonanyaccount。
Jumpuptoyourseatdirectly。
I’mwerymuchafeerd，mutteredSamtohimself，asheturnedaway，thatsomethin’queer’scomeoverthegovernor，orhe’dneverha’stoodthissoquiet。Ihopethat’eretrialhasn’tbrokehisspirit，butitlooksbad，werybad。Mr。Wellershookhisheadgravely。anditisworthyofremark，asanillustrationofthemannerinwhichhetookthiscircumstancetoheart，thathedidnotspeakanotherworduntilthecoachreachedtheKensingtonturnpike。Whichwassolongatimeforhimtoremaintaciturn，thatthefactmaybeconsideredwhollyunprecedented。
Nothingworthyofspecialmentionoccurredduringthejourney。Mr。Dowlerrelatedavarietyofanecdotes，allillustrativeofhisownpersonalprowessanddesperation，andappealedtoMrs。Dowlerincorroborationthereof：
whenMrs。Dowlerinvariablybroughtin，intheformofanappendix，someremarkablefactorcircumstancewhichMr。Dowlerhadforgotten，orhadperhapsthroughmodestyomitted：fortheaddendaineveryinstancewenttoshowthatMr。Dowlerwasevenamorewonderfulfellowthanhemadehimselfouttobe。Mr。PickwickandMr。Winklelistenedwithgreatadmiration，andatintervalsc...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
第19章