“Pooh, pooh, my dear Sir,” returned Perker. “I know you both a great deal better than you know yourselves. You have settled it already, to all intents and purposes.”

Thus expressing himself, the little gentleman poked his snuffbox first into the chest of Mr. Pickwick, and then into the waistcoat of Mr. Wardle, upon which they all three laughed, especially the two last-named gentlemen, who at once shook hands again, without any obvious or particular reason.

“You dine with me today,” said Wardle to Perker, as he showed them out.

“Can’t promise, my dear Sir, can’t promise,” replied Perker. “I’ll look in, in the evening, at all events.”