Iamafraid，sir，saidMr。Pickwick，layinghishandgentlyandcompassionatelyonhisarm。Iamafraidyouwillhavetoliveinsomenoisycrowdedplace。
Now，pray，considerthisroomyourownwhenyouwantquiet，orwhenanyofyourfriendscometoseeyou。
Friends！interposedtheman，inavoicewhichrattledinhisthroat。
IfIlaydeadatthebottomofthedeepestmineintheworld。tightscreweddownandsolderedinmycoffin。rottinginthedarkandfilthyditchthatdragsitsslimealong，beneaththefoundationsofthisprison。IcouldnotbemoreforgottenorunheededthanIamhere。Iamadeadman。deadtosociety，withoutthepitytheybestowonthosewhosesoulshavepassedtojudgment。Friendstoseeme！MyGod！Ihavesunk，fromtheprimeoflifeintooldage，inthisplace，andthereisnotonetoraisehishandabovemybedwhenIliedeaduponit，andsay，`Itisablessingheisgone！’
Theexcitement，whichhadcastanunwontedlightovertheman’sface，whilehespoke，subsidedasheconcluded。and，pressinghiswitheredhandstogetherinahastyanddisorderedmanner，heshuffledfromtheroom。
Ridesratherrusty，saidMr。Roker，withasmile。Ah！they’reliketheelephants。Theyfeelitnowandthen，anditmakes’emwild！
Havingmadethisdeeply-sympathisingremark，Mr。Rokerentereduponhisarrangementswithsuchexpedition，thatinashorttimetheroomwasfurnishedwithacarpet，sixchairs，atable，asofabedstead，atea-kettle，andvarioussmallarticles，onhire，attheveryreasonablerateofseven-and-twentyshillingsandsixpenceperweek。
Now，isthereanythingmorewecandoforyou？inquiredMr。Roker，lookingroundwithgreatsatisfaction，andgailychinkingthefirstweek’shireinhisclosedfirst。
Why，yes，saidMr。Pickwick，whohadbeenmusingdeeplyforsometime。
Arethereanypeoplehere，whorunonerrands，andsoforth？
Outside，doyoumean？inquiredMr。Roker。
Yes。Imeanwhoareabletogooutside。Notprisoners。
Yes，thereis，saidRoker。There’sanunfortunatedevil，whohasgotafriendonthepoorside，that’sgladtodoanythingofthatsort。
He’sbeenrunningoddjobs，andthat，forthelasttwomonths。ShallI
sendhim？
Ifyouplease，rejoinedMr。Pickwick。Stay。no。Thepoorside，yousay？Ishouldliketoseeit。I’llgotohimmyself。
Thepoorsideofadebtor’sprison，is，asitsnameimports，thatinwhichthemostmiserableandabjectclassofdebtorsareconfined。Aprisonerhavingdeclareduponthepoorside，paysneitherrentnorchummage。Hisfees，uponenteringandleavingthegaol，arereducedinamount，andhebecomesentitledtoashareofsomesmallquantitiesoffood：toprovidewhich，afewcharitablepersonshave，fromtimetotime，lefttriflinglegaciesintheirwills。Mostofourreaderswillremember，that，untilwithinaveryfewyearspast，therewasakindofironcageinthewalloftheFleetPrison，withinwhichwaspostedsomemanofhungrylooks，who，fromtimetotime，rattledamoney-box，andexclaimedinamournfulvoice，Pray，rememberthepoordebtors。pray，rememberthepoordebtors。
Thereceiptsofthisbox，whentherewereany，weredividedamongthepoorprisoners。andthemenonthepoorsiderelievedeachotherinthisdegradingoffice。
Althoughthiscustomhasbeenabolished，andthecageisnowboardedup，themiserableanddestituteconditionoftheseunhappypersonsremainsthesame。Wenolongersufferthemtoappealattheprisongatestothecharityandcompassionofthepassers-by。butwestillleaveunblottedintheleavesofourstatutebook，forthereverenceandadmirationofsucceedingages，thejustandwholesomelawwhichdeclaresthatthesturdyfelonshallbefedandclothed，andthatthepennilessdebtorshallbelefttodieofstarvationandnakedness。Thisisnofiction。Notaweekpassesoverourheads，but，ineveryoneofourprisonsfordebt，someofthesemenmustinevitablyexpireintheslowagoniesofwant，iftheywerenotrelievedbytheirfellow-prisoners。
Turningthesethingsinhismind，ashemountedthenarrowstaircaseatthefootofwhichRokerhadlefthim，Mr。Pickwickgraduallyworkedhimselftotheboiling-overpoint。andsoexcitedwashewithhisreflectionsonthissubject，thathehadburstintotheroomtowhichhehadbeendirected，beforehehadanydistinctrecollection，eitheroftheplaceinwhichhewas，oroftheobjectofhisvisit。
Thegeneralaspectoftheroomrecalledhimtohimselfatonce。buthehadnosoonercasthiseyesonthefigureofamanwhowasbroodingoverthedustyfire，than，lettinghishatfallonthefloor，hestoodperfectlyfixed，andimmovable，withastonishment。
Yes。intatteredgarments，andwithoutacoat。hiscommoncalicoshirt，yellowandinrags。hishairhangingoverhisface。hisfeatureschangedwithsuffering，andpinchedwithfamine。theresatMr。AlfredJingle：hisheadrestingonhishand，hiseyesfixeduponthefire，andhiswholeappearancedenotingmiseryanddejection！
Nearhim，leaninglistlesslyagainstthewall，stoodastrong-builtcountryman，flickingwithaworn-outhunting-whipthetop-bootthatadornedhisrightfoot：hisleftbeingforhedressedbyeasystagesthrustintoanoldslipper。Horses，dogs，anddrink，hadbroughthimthere，pell-mell。
Therewasarustyspuronthesolitaryboot，whichheoccasionallyjerkedintotheemptyair，atthesametimegivingthebootasmartblow，andmutteringsomeofthesoundsbywhichasportsmanencourageshishorse。
Hewasriding，inimagination，somedesperatesteeple-chaseatthatmoment。
Poorwretch！Heneverrodeamatchontheswiftestanimalinhiscostlystud，withhalfthespeedatwhichhehadtornalongthecoursethatendedintheFleet。
Ontheoppositesideoftheroomanoldmanwasseatedonasmallwoodenbox，withhiseyesrivetedonthefloor，andhisfacesettledintoanexpressionofthedeepestandmosthopelessdespair。Ayounggirl——hislittlegrand-daughter——washangingabouthim：endeavouring，withathousandchildishdevices，toengagehisattention。buttheoldmanneithersawnorheardher。Thevoicethathadbeenmusictohim，andtheeyesthathadbeenlight，fellcoldlyonhissenses。Hislimbswereshakingwithdisease，andthepalsyhadfastenedonhismind。
Thereweretwoorthreeothermenintheroom，congregatedinalittleknot，andnoisilytalkingamongthemselves。Therewasaleanandhaggardwoman，too——aprisoner’swife——whowaswatering，withgreatsolicitude，thewretchedstumpofadried-up，witheredplant，which，itwasplaintosee，couldneversendforthagreenleafagain——tootrueanemblem，perhaps，oftheofficeshehadcometheretodischarge。
SuchweretheobjectswhichpresentedthemselvestoMr。Pickwick’sview，ashelookedroundhiminamazement。Thenoiseofsomeonestumblinghastilyintotheroom，rousedhim。Turninghiseyestowardsthedoor，theyencounteredthenew-comer。andinhim，throughhisragsanddirt，herecognisedthefamiliarfeaturesofMr。JobTrotter。
Mr。Pickwick！exclaimedJobaloud。
Eh？saidJingle，startingfromhisseat。Mr——！Soitis——queerplace——strangething——servesmeright——very。Mr。Jinglethrusthishandsintotheplacewherehistrousers’pocketsusedtobe，and，droppinghischinuponhisbreast，sankbackintohischair。
Mr。Pickwickwasaffected。thetwomenlookedsoverymiserable。ThesharpinvoluntaryglanceJinglehadcastatasmallpieceofrawloinofmutton，whichJobhadbroughtinwithhim，saidmoreoftheirreducedstatethantwohours’explanationcouldhavedone。Mr。PickwicklookedmildlyatJingle，andsaid：
Ishouldliketospeaktoyouinprivate。Willyoustepoutforaninstant？
Certainly，saidJingle，risinghastily。Can’tstepfar——nodangerofover-walkingyourselfhere——Spikepark——groundspretty——romantic，butnotextensive——openforpublicinspection——familyalwaysintown——housekeeperdesperatelycareful——very。
Youhaveforgottenyourcoat，saidMr。Pickwick，astheywalkedouttothestaircase，andclosedthedoorafterthem。
Eh？saidJingle。Spout——dearrelation——uncleTom——couldn’thelpit——musteat，youknow。Wantsofnature——andallthat。
Whatdoyoumean？
Gone，mydearsir——lastcoat——can’thelpit。Livedonapairofboots——wholefortnight。Silkumbrella——ivoryhandle——week——fact——honour——askJob——knowsit。
Livedforthreeweeksuponapairofboots，andasilkumbrellawithanivoryhandle！exclaimedMr。Pickwick，whohadonlyheardofsuchthingsinshipwrecks，orreadoftheminConstable’sMiscellany。
True，saidJingle，noddinghishead。Pawnbroker’sshop——duplicateshere——smallsums——merenothing——allrascals。
Oh，saidMr。Pickwick，muchrelievedbythisexplanation。Iunderstandyou。Youhavepawnedyourwardrobe。
Everything——Job’stoo——allshirtsgone——nevermind——saveswashing。
Nothingsoon——lieinbed——starve——die——Inquest——littlebone-house——poorprisoner——commonnecessaries——hushitup——gentlemenofthejury——warden’stradesmen——keepitsnug——naturaldeath——coroner’sorder——work-housefuneral——servehimright——allover\s-s\dropthecurtain。
Jingledeliveredthissingularsummaryofhisprospectsinlife，withhisaccustomedvolubility，andwithvarioustwitchesofthecountenancetocounterfeitsmiles。Mr。Pickwickeasilyperceivedthathisrecklessnesswasassumed，andlookinghimfull，butnotunkindly，intheface，sawthathiseyesweremoistwithtears。
Goodfellow，saidJingle，pressinghishand，andturninghisheadaway。Ungratefuldog——boyishtocry——can’thelpit——badfever——weak——ill——hungry。
Deserveditall——butsufferedmuch——very。Whollyunabletokeepupappearancesanylonger，andperhapsrenderedworsebytheefforthehadmade，thedejectedstrollersatdownonthestairs，and，coveringhisfacewithhishands，sobbedlikeachild。
Come，come，saidMr。Pickwick，withconsiderableemotion，we’llseewhatcanbedone，whenIknowallaboutthematter。Here，Job。whereisthatfellow？
Here，sir，repliedJob，presentinghimselfonthestaircase。Wehavedescribedhim，by-the-bye，ashavingdeeply-sunkeneyes，inthebestoftimes。Inhispresentstateofwantanddistress，helookedasifthosefeatureshadgoneoutoftownaltogether。
Here，sir，criedJob。
Comehere，sir，saidMr。Pickwick，tryingtolookstern，withfourlargetearsrunningdownhiswaistcoat。Takethat，sir。
Takewhat？Intheordinaryacceptationofsuchlanguage，itshouldhavebeenablow。Astheworldruns，itoughttohavebeenasound，heartycuff。
forMr。Pickwickhadbeenduped，deceived，andwrongedbythedestituteoutcastwhowasnowwhollyinhispower。Mustwetellthetruth？ItwassomethingfromMr。Pickwick’swaistcoat-pocket，whichchinkedasitwasgivenintoJob’shand，andthegivingofwhich，somehoworotherimpartedasparkletotheeye，andaswellingtotheheart，ofourexcellentoldfriend，ashehurriedaway。
SamhadreturnedwhenMr。Pickwickreachedhisownroom，andwasinspectingthearrangementsthathadbeenmadeforhiscomfort，withakindofgrimsatisfactionwhichwasverypleasanttolookupon。Havingadecidedobjectiontohismaster’sbeingthereatall，Mr。Wellerappearedtoconsideritahighmoraldutynottoappeartoomuchpleasedwithanythingthatwasdone，said，suggested，orproposed。
Well，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。
Well，sir，repliedMr。Weller。
Prettycomfortablenow，eh，Sam？
Prettyvell，sir，respondedSam，lookingroundhiminadisparagingmanner。
HaveyouseenMr。Tupmanandourotherfriends？
Yes，Ihaveseen’em，sir，andthey’reacomin’to-morrow，andwoswerymuchsurprisedtoheartheywarn’ttocometo-day，repliedSam。
YouhavebroughtthethingsIwanted？
Mr。Wellerinreplypointedtovariouspackageswhichhehadarranged，asneatlyashecould，inacorneroftheroom。
Verywell，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，afteralittlehesitation。listentowhatIamgoingtosay，Sam。
Cert’nly，sir，rejoinedMr。Weller，fireaway，sir。
Ihavefeltfromthefirst，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，withmuchsolemnity，thatthisisnottheplacetobringayoungmanto。
Noranold’unneither，sir，observedMr。Weller。
You’requiteright，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。butoldmenmaycomehere，throughtheirownheedlessnessandunsuspicion：andyoungmenmaybebroughtherebytheselfishnessofthosetheyserve。Itisbetterforthoseyoungmen，ineverypointofview，thattheyshouldnotremainhere。
Doyouundertsandme，Sam？
Vyno，sir，IdoNOT，repliedMr。Weller，doggedly。
Try，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。
Vell，sir，rejoinedSam，afterashortpause，IthinkIseeyourdrift。andifIdoseeyourdrift，it’smy`pinionthatyou’reacomin’
itagreatdealtoostrong，asthemailcoachmansaidtothesnow-storm，venitovertookhim。
Iseeyoucomprehendme，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。Independentlyofmywishthatyoushouldnotbeidlingaboutaplacelikethis，foryearstocome，IfeelthatforadebtorintheFleettobeattendedbyhisman-servantisamonstrousabsurdity。Sam，saidMr。Pickwick，foratime，youmustleaveme。
Oh，foratime，eh，sir？rejoinedMr。Weller，rathersarcastically。
Yes，forthetimethatIremainhere，saidMr。Pickwick。YourwagesIshallcontinuetopay。Anyoneofmythreefriendswillbehappytotakeyou，wereitonlyoutofrespecttome。AndifIeverdoleavethisplace，Sam，addedMr。Pickwick，withassumedcheerfulness：ifIdo，Ipledgeyoumywordthatyoushallreturntomeinstantly。
NowI’lltellyouwotitis，sir，saidMr。Weller，inagraveandsolemnvoice，Thisheresorto’thingwon’tdoatall，sodon’tlet’shearnomoreaboutit。
Iamserious，andresolved，Sam，saidMr。Pickwick。
Youair，airyou，sir？inquiredMr。Weller，firmly。Werygood，sir。
ThensoamI。
Thusspeaking，Mr。Wellerfixedhishatonhishandwithgreatprecision，andabruptlylefttheroom。
Sam！criedMr。Pickwick，callingafterhim，Sam！Here！
Butthelonggalleryceasedtore-echothesoundoffoot-steps。SamWellerwasgone。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ThePickwickPapers：Chapter43[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXLIIISHOWINGHOWMR。SAMUELWELLERGOTINTODIFFICULTIES
INaloftyroom，ill-lightedandworseventilated，situateinPortugalStreet，Lincoln’sInnFields，theresitnearlythewholeyearround，one，two，three，orfourgentlemeninwigs，asthecasemaybe，withlittlewritingdesksbeforethem，constructedafterthefashionofthoseusedbythejudgesoftheland，barringtheFrenchpolish。Thereisaboxofbarristersontheirrighthand。thereisaninclosureofinsolventdebtorsontheirleft。andthereisaninclinedplaneofmostespeciallydirtyfacesintheirfront。ThesegentlemenaretheCommissionersoftheInsolventCourt，andtheplaceinwhichtheysit，istheInsolventCourtitself。
Itis，andhasbeen，timeoutofmind，theremarkablefateofthisCourttobe，somehoworother，heldandunderstood，bythegeneralconsentofallthedestituteshabby-genteelpeopleinLondon，astheircommonresort，andplaceofdailyrefuge。Itisalwaysfull。Thesteamsofbeerandspiritsperpetuallyascendtotheceiling，and，beingcondensedbytheheat，rolldownthewallslikerain。therearemoreoldsuitsofclothesinitatonetime，thanwillbeofferedforsaleinallHoundsditchinatwelvemonth。
moreunwashedskinsandgrizzlybeardsthanallthepumpsandshavingshopsbetweenTyburnandWhitechapelcouldrenderdecent，betweensunriseandsunset。
Itmustnotbesupposedthatanyofthesepeoplehavetheleastshadowofbusinessin，ortheremotestconnectionwith，theplacetheysoindefatigablyattend。Iftheyhad，itwouldbenomatterofsurprise，andthesingularityofthethingwouldcease。Someofthemsleepduringthegreaterpartofthesitting。otherscarrysmallportabledinnerswrappedinpocket-handkerchiefsorstickingoutoftheirworn-outpockets，andmunchandlistenwithequalrelish。butnooneamongthemwaseverknowntohavetheslightestpersonalinterestinanycasethatwaseverbroughtforward。What-evertheydo，theretheysitfromthefirstmomenttothelast。Whenitisheavyrainyweather，theyallcomein，wetthrough。andatsuchtimesthevapoursoftheCourtarelikethoseofafungus-pit。
AcasualvisitormightsupposethisplacetobeaTemplededicatedtotheGeniusofSeediness。Thereisnotamessengerorprocess-serverattachedtoit，whowearsacoatthatwasmadeforhim。notatolerablyfresh，orwholesome-lookingmaninthewholeestablishment，exceptalittlewhite-headedapple-facedtipstaff，andevenhe，likeanillconditionedcherrypreservedinbrandy，seemstohaveartificiallydriedandwitheredupintoastateofpreservationtowhichhecanlaynonaturalclaim。Theverybarristers’
wigsareill-powdered，andtheircurlslackcrispness。
Buttheattorneys，whositatalargebaretablebelowtheCommissioners，are，afterall，thegreatestcuriosities。Theprofessionalestablishmentofthemoreopulentofthesegentlemen，consistsofabluebagandaboy：
generallyayouthoftheJewishpersuasion。Theyhavenofixedoffices，theirlegalbusinessbeingtransactedintheparloursofpublic-houses，ortheyardsofprisons：whithertheyrepairincrowds，andcanvassforcustomersafterthemannerofomnibuscads。Theyareofagreasyandmildewedappearance。andiftheycanbesaidtohaveanyvicesatall，perhapsdrinkingandcheatingarethemostconspicuousamongthem。TheirresidencesareusuallyontheoutskirtsoftheRules，chieflylyingwithinacircleofonemilefromtheobeliskinSt。George’sFields。Theirlooksarenotprepossessing，andtheirmannersarepeculiar。
Mr。SolomonPell，oneofthislearnedbody，wasafatflabbypaleman，inasurtoutwhichlookedgreenoneminuteandbrownthenext：withavelvetcollarofthesamechameleontints。Hisforeheadwasnarrow，hisfacewide，hisheadlarge，andhisnoseallononeside，asifNature，indignantwiththepropensitiessheobservedinhiminhisbirth，hadgivenitanangrytweakwhichithadneverrecovered。Beingshort-neckedandasthmatic，however，herespiredprincipallythroughthisfeature。so，perhaps，whatitwantedinornament，itmadeupinusefulness。
I’msuretobringhimthroughit，saidMr。Pell。
Areyouthough？repliedthepersontowhomtheassurancewaspledged。
Certainsure，repliedPell。butifhe’dgonetoanyirregularpractitioner，mindyou，Iwouldn’thaveansweredfortheconsequences。
Ah！saidtheother，withopenmouth。
No，thatIwouldn’t，saidMr。...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
第23章