Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 144: what you’re looking at

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Xe 130 . They were both strong and muscular, men, attired in a species of flash style which has the same reference to real gen- tility as: counterfeit jewellery to genuine gold, and bearing on their visages divers in- dications’of hard-fought battles. For in- stance, Mr. Knackers’ left eye was adorned with a dreadful scar; and Mr. Porrett’s nose was very nearly flattened level with his face. They had both moreover lost a few of their front teeth. “Gentlemen, will you allow me to treat you to a bowl of punch ?” said Mr, Pickwick ; and without waiting for the assent of the prize-fighters, he or ‘dered William to bring the proffered treat. “« “Who is the old fellow ?” inquired Mr. Knackers, “That there's my mas’er, gen’lemen,” said, Mr. Weller aloud ; and Mr. Knackers and Mr. Porrett hoped that both Mr. Pick- wick and Mr. Winkle were quite well; and when answered in the aftirmative, ‘they simultaneously declared, that, for their parts, they were never better! The punch was now served out to the party; and Mr. Pickwick determined to commence his exhortation so soon as it should have taken the effect of putting those, whom he intended with his charac- teristic wisdom and foresight, to reclam, into a good humor. _ “Here’s to you, Sir,” said Mr. Knackers, “Better luck to us all,” cried Mr. Porrett ; and the two We nthetiren emptied their glasses at a draught. “Have you been unfortunate, then ?” in- quired Mr. Pickwick in a very sentinngptal et voice. , should rather think so,” answerec Mr. Porrett. “Wasnt I wolloped by young Irish Bill down there at Reading last year ? and didn’t I'stand a chance of going to the Floating Academy at Woolwich for killing | the Kidderminster favorite ?” “Ah! you and I have seen someat in our ,lives, Ben,” moralized’ Mr. Knackers. “T was only a small infant when my first ag exhibition at the cart’s tail took piace, and through no fault of mine. Itwas long of my sister which stole the goose and. laid it to me.” “The Floating Academy means the hulks, : “Sir: 4 whispered Mr. Weller to his master. yWery amusin’ chaps, ain’t they !” “Very,” said’ Mr. Pickwick, whet “This punch is rather strong,” said. Mr. Winkle, ‘hel bs of saying something. -wick ; and the tw said Yioting, swearing—” , -PIOKWICK ABROAD. eS is . J | % ‘you one.if the fancy, Sir, in- quired Mr. Porrett, rue 4S himself to Mr. Winkle. AOS is “ Who? I—Oh!no” answered. that gen tleman, starting as if his interrogator had actually explained himself more fully by’ pitching into him right ——s to use’ the select phraseology of prize-fighters. “What a loss you have had to experi- ence, then'!” said: Mr. Porrett, shaking his head in. mournful commisseration, ae “Nor you, Sir?” inquired Mr. ‘Koackers of Mr. Pickwick. “I have not that pleasure,” oe the answer. “Why, where do you come from ” de- manded Mr. Knackers. “From London, Sir,” replied Mr. Pick- prize-fighters burst out, intowa violent fit of laughter. ~ y mag’ers is gen’lemen nd hasyhad _ . wery little experience in them things,” ob- served Mr. Weller; “but if so be you're wery anxious at this per-cise moment to dis- cover anything to practise upon, vy I'm your man, as the bear said ven he hugged the old la y to death.” “Sam,” cried Mr. Pickwick ; “remem- ber my injunctions; and you, gentlemen, do. me i if ah, ny to listen to a friend to humanity. old enough to . your fa- ther.” “So you, are, old boy,” ejacaatel Mr. Knackers. @. “And I speak to you as I would to my own children,” continued Mr. Pickwick, “There’s no mistake about that,” cried Mr. Porrett. Fi “You are both strong and fonly men,” r. Pickwick, prudently appealing to their eelings through the medium of fiat- tering their vanity ; yo are both strong and fine men—” — “So the Kidderminster pet said when f knocked his eye out,” interrupted Mr. Porrett. « And it is terrible to see you mutilate urselves in such a degra system of a fare,” added the fe Sey we 4 “T recolleet the old magistrate n hin the very same observation when he fined me fifteen bob for assaulting aycab- man,” ob- served Mr: Knackers, Ah “Consider the course of life you are pur- suing, my friends,” resumed Mr. Pickwick, as he filled the glasses round; “drinking, “Well upon my word, you do it uncom- monly well, now,” exclaimed Mr. Porrett Go L0)(0YO) =} a 7? “ Gom