This last question was addressed to the lame man, who, unobserved by Mr. Pickwick, made one of the party. In reply to it, the lame man touched his hat again, with all imaginable politeness, and motioned towards Mr. Pickwick.

“No, no,” said Perker, with a smile. “We don’t want you, my dear friend, we don’t want you.”

“I beg your pardon, sir,” said the lame man. “The gentleman took my card. I hope you will employ me, sir. The gentleman nodded to me. I’ll be judged by the gentleman himself. You nodded to me, sir?”

“Pooh, pooh, nonsense. You didn’t nod to anybody, Pickwick? A mistake, a mistake,” said Perker.