“You think you can find him, Sam?” said Mr. Pickwick, looking earnestly in his face.

“Oh, I’ll find him if he’s anyvere,” rejoined Sam, with great confidence.

“Very well,” said Mr. Pickwick. “Then the sooner you go the better.”

With these instructions, Mr. Pickwick placed a sum of money in the hands of his faithful servitor, and ordered him to start for Bristol immediately, in pursuit of the fugitive.

Sam put a few necessaries in a carpetbag, and was ready for starting. He stopped when he had got to the end of the passage, and walking quietly back, thrust his head in at the parlour door.

“Sir,” whispered Sam.