“Ah,” said the red-haired man, placing the card in his pocketbook, “Pickwick; very good. I like to know a man’s name, it saves so much trouble. That’s my card, sir. Magnus, you will perceive, sir⁠—Magnus is my name. It’s rather a good name, I think, sir.”

“A very good name, indeed,” said Mr. Pickwick, wholly unable to repress a smile.

“Yes, I think it is,” resumed Mr. Magnus. “There’s a good name before it, too, you will observe. Permit me, sir⁠—if you hold the card a little slanting, this way, you catch the light upon the upstroke. There⁠—Peter Magnus⁠—sounds well, I think, sir.”

“Very,” said Mr. Pickwick.