nversation; at length, as the editor's
countenance gradually relaxed into its customary expression of moral
supremacy, he ventured to resume the discourse by asking--

'Is it fair to inquire what great object has brought you so far from
home?'

'That object which actuates and animates me in all my gigantic labours,
Sir,' replied Pott, with a calm smile: 'my country's good.' 'I supposed
it was some public mission,' observed Mr. Pickwick.

'Yes, Sir,' resumed Pott, 'it is.' Here, bending towards Mr. Pickwick,
he whispered in a deep, hollow voice, 'A Buff ball, Sir, will take place
in Birmingham to-morrow evening.'

'God bless me!' exclaimed Mr. Pickwick.

'Yes, Sir, and supper,' added Pott.

'You don't say so!' ejaculated Mr. Pickwick.

Pott nodded portentously.

Now, although Mr. Pickwick feigned to stand aghast at this disclosure,
he was so little versed in local politics that he was unable to form
an adequate comprehension of the importance of the dire conspiracy it
referred to; observing which, Mr. Pott, drawing forth the last number of
the Eatanswill GAZETTE, and referring to the same, delivered himself of
the following paragraph:--

HOLE-AND-CORNER BUFFERY.

'A reptile contemporary has recently sweltered forth his black venom
in the vain and hopeless attempt of sullying the fair name of our
distinguished and excellent representative, the Honourable Mr.
Slumkey--that Slumkey whom we, long before he gained his present noble
and exalted position, predicted would one day be, as he now is, at once
his country's brightest honour, and her proudest boast: alike her bold
defender and her honest pride--our reptile contemporary, we say,
has made himself merry, at the expense of a superbly embossed plated
coal-scuttle, which has been presented to that glorious man by his
enraptured constituents, and towards the purchase of which, the nameless
wretch insinuates, the Honourable Mr. Slumkey himself contributed,
through a confidential friend of his butler's, more than three-fourths
of the whole sum subscribed. Why, does not the crawling creature see,
that even if this be the fact, the Honourable Mr. Slumkey only appears
in a still more amiable and radiant light than before, if that be
possible? Does not even his obtuseness perceive that this amiable and
touching desire to carry out the wishes of the constituent body, must
for ever endear him to the hearts and souls of such of his fellow
townsmen as are no