walk in the grounds of the Fleet
when Mrs. Bardell was brought in, and Sam Weller, seeing the lady, took
off his hat in mock reverence. Mr. Pickwick turned indignantly away.

"Don't bother the woman," said the turnkey to Weller; "she's just come
in."

"A pris'ner!" said Sam. "Who's the plaintives? What for? Speak up, old
feller!"

"Dodson and Fogg," replied the man.

"Here, Job, Job!" shouted Sam, dashing into the passage, and calling for
a man who went errands for the prisoners. "Run to Mr. Perker's, Job; I
want him directly. I see some good in this. Here's a game! Hooray!"

Mr. Perker was in Mr. Pickwick's room betimes next morning.

"Well, now, my dear sir," said Perker, "the first question I have to ask
is whether this woman is to remain here? It rests solely and wholly and
entirely with you."

"With me!" ejaculated Mr. Pickwick.

"Nobody but you can rescue her from this den of wretchedness, to which
no man, and still more no woman, should ever be consigned if I had my
will," resumed Mr. Perker. "I have seen the woman this morning. By
paying the costs, you can obtain a full release and discharge from the
damages; and, further, a voluntary statement, under her hand, that this
business was from the very first fomented and encouraged by these men,
Dodson and Fogg. She entreats me to intercede with you, and implores
your pardon."

Before Mr. Pickwick could reply, there was a low murmuring of voices
outside, and a hesitating knock at the door; and Mr. Winkle, Mr. Tupman,
and Mr. Snodgrass entering most opportunely, at last, by their united
pleadings, Mr. Pickwick was fairly argued out of his resolutions. At
three o'clock that afternoon Mr. Pickwick took a last look at his little
room, and made his way as well as he could through the throng of debtors
who pressed eagerly forward to shake him by the hand, until he reached
the lodge steps. He turned here to look about him, and his eye
brightened as he did so. In all the crowd of wan, emaciated faces, he
saw not one which was not the happier for his sympathy and charity.

As for Sam Weller, having dispatched Job Trotter to procure his formal
discharge, his next proceeding was to invest his whole stock of ready
money in the purchase of five-and-twenty gallons of mild porter, which
he himself dispensed on the racket-ground to everybody who would partake
of it. This done, he hurra'd in divers parts of the building until he
lost his voice, and then quietly relapsed i