第240章

There was a rusty spur on the solitary boot, which he occasionally jerked into the empty air, at the same time giving the boot a smart blow, and muttering some of the sounds by which a sportsman encourages his horse.

He was riding, in imagination, some desperate steeple-chase at that moment.

Poor wretch! He never rode a match on the swiftest animal in his costly stud, with half the speed at which he had torn along the course that ended in the Fleet.

On the opposite side of the room an old man was seated on a small wooden box, with his eyes riveted on the floor, and his face settled into an expression of the deepest and most hopeless despair.A young girl--his little grand-daughter--was hanging about him: endeavouring, with a thousand childish devices, to engage his attention; but the old man neither saw nor heard her.The voice that had been music to him, and the eyes that had been light, fell coldly on his senses.His limbs were shaking with disease, and the palsy had fastened on his mind.

There were two or three other men in the room, congregated in a little knot, and noisily talking among themselves.There was a lean and haggard woman, too--a prisoner's wife--who was watering, with great solicitude, the wretched stump of a dried-up, withered plant, which, it was plain to see, could never send forth a green leaf again;--too true an emblem, perhaps, of the office she had come there to discharge.

Such were the objects which presented themselves to Mr.Pickwick's view, as he looked round him in amazement.The noise of some one stumbling hastily into the room, roused him.Turning his eyes towards the door, they encountered the new-comer; and in him, through his rags and dirt, he recognised the familiar features of Mr.Job Trotter.

"Mr.Pickwick!" exclaimed Job aloud.

"Eh?" said Jingle, starting from his seat."Mr.--! So it is--queer place--strange thing--serves me right--very." Mr.Jingle thrust his hands into the place where his trousers' pockets used to be, and, dropping his chin upon his breast, sank back into his chair.

Mr.Pickwick was affected; the two men looked so very miserable.The sharp involuntary glance Jingle had cast at a small piece of raw loin of mutton, which Job had brought in with him, said more of their reduced state than two hours' explanation could have done.Mr.Pickwick looked mildly at Jingle, and said:

"I should like to speak to you in private.Will you step out for an instant?""Certainly," said Jingle, rising hastily."Can't step far--no danger of over-walking yourself here--Spike park--grounds pretty--romantic, but not extensive--open for public inspection--family always in town--housekeeper desperately careful--very.""You have forgotten your coat," said Mr.Pickwick, as they walked out to the staircase, and closed the door after them.

"Eh?" said Jingle."Spout--dear relation--uncle Tom--couldn't help it--must eat, you know.Wants of nature--and all that.""What do you mean?"

"Gone, my dear sir--last coat--can't help it.Lived on a pair of boots--whole fortnight.Silk umbrella--ivory handle--week--fact--honour--ask Job--knows it.""Lived for three weeks upon a pair of boots, and a silk umbrella with an ivory handle!" exclaimed Mr.Pickwick, who had only heard of such things in shipwrecks, or read of them in Constable's Miscellany.

"True," said Jingle, nodding his head."Pawnbroker's shop--duplicates here--small sums--mere nothing--all rascals.""Oh," said Mr.Pickwick, much relieved by this explanation; "I understand you.You have pawned your wardrobe.""Everything--Job's too--all shirts gone--never mind--saves washing.

Nothing soon--lie in bed--starve--die--Inquest--little bone-house--poor prisoner--common necessaries--hush it up--gentlemen of the jury--warden's tradesmen--keep it snug--natural death--coroner's order--work-house funeral--serve him right--all overs-sdrop the curtain."Jingle delivered this singular summary of his prospects in life, with his accustomed volubility, and with various twitches of the countenance to counterfeit smiles.Mr.Pickwick easily perceived that his recklessness was assumed, and looking him full, but not unkindly, in the face, saw that his eyes were moist with tears.

"Good fellow," said Jingle, pressing his hand, and turning his head away."Ungrateful dog--boyish to cry--can't help it--bad fever--weak--ill--hungry.