“Leave that to me, Sir,” said Sam. “Let me order you a snug little dinner, and make my inquiries below while it’s a-getting ready; I could worm ev’ry secret out o’ the boots’s heart, in five minutes, Sir.”

“Do so,” said Mr. Pickwick; and Mr. Weller at once retired.

In half an hour, Mr. Pickwick was seated at a very satisfactory dinner; and in three-quarters Mr. Weller returned with the intelligence that Mr. Charles Fitz-Marshall had ordered his private room to be retained for him, until further notice. He was going to spend the evening at some private house in the neighbourhood, had ordered the boots to sit up until his return, and had taken his servant with him.