“I hope I shall have the pleasure of judging,” said Mr. Pickwick, with a smile.

“You shall,” replied Dowler. “She shall know you. She shall esteem you. I courted her under singular circumstances. I won her through a rash vow. Thus. I saw her; I loved her; I proposed; she refused me.⁠—‘You love another?’⁠—‘Spare my blushes.’⁠—‘I know him.’⁠—‘You do.’⁠—‘Very good; if he remains here, I’ll skin him.’ ”

“Lord bless me!” exclaimed Mr. Pickwick involuntarily.

“Did you skin the gentleman, Sir?” inquired Mr. Winkle, with a very pale face.

“I wrote him a note, I said it was a painful thing. And so it was.”