′I think I gave that person a very pressing invitation last night, which he thought proper to decline.′ Saying which the doctor scowled magnanimously on the stranger, and whispered his friend Lieutenant Tappleton.
′You don′t say so,′ said that gentleman, at the conclusion of the whisper.
′I do, indeed,′ replied Doctor Slammer.
′You are bound to kick him on the spot,′ murmured the owner of the camp-stool, with great importance.
′Do be quiet, Payne,′ interposed the lieutenant. ′Will you allow me to ask you, sir,′ he said, addressing Mr. Pickwick, who was considerably mystified by this very unpolite by-play—′will you allow me to ask you, Sir, whether that person belongs to your party?′
′No, Sir,′ replied Mr. Pickwick, ′he is a guest of ours.′
′He is a member of your club, or I am mistaken?′ said the lieutenant inquiringly.
′Certainly not,′ responded Mr. Pickwick.
′And never wears your club-button?′ said the lieutenant.
′No—never!′ replied the astonished Mr. Pickwick.
Lieutenant Tappleton turned round to his friend Doctor Slammer, with a scarcely perceptible shrug of the shoulder, as if implying some doubt of the accuracy of his recollection. The little doctor looked wrathful, but confounded; and Mr. Payne gazed with a ferocious aspect on the beaming countenance of the unconscious Pickwick.
′Sir,′ said the doctor, suddenly addressing Mr. Tupman, in a tone which made that gentleman start as perceptibly as if a pin had been cunningly inserted in the calf of his leg, ′you were at the ball here last night!′
Mr. Tupman gasped a faint affirmative, looking very hard at Mr. Pickwick all the while.
′That person was your companion,′ said the doctor, pointing to the still unmoved stranger.
Mr. Tupman admitted the fact.
′Now, sir,′ said the doctor to the stranger, ′I ask you once again, in the presence of these gentlemen, whether you choose to give me your card, and to receive the treatment of a gentleman; or whether you impose upon me the necessity of personally chastising you on the spot?′
′Stay, sir,′ said Mr. Pickwick, ′I really cannot allow this matter to go any further without some explanation. Tupman, recount the circumstances.′
Mr. Tupman, thus solemnly adjured, stated the case in a few words; touched slightly on the borrowing of the coat; expatiated largely on its having been done ′after dinner′; wound up with a little penitence on his own account; and left the stranger to clear himself as best he could.
He was apparently about to proceed to do so, when Lieutenant Tappleton, who had been eyeing him with great curiosity, said with considerable scorn, ′Haven′t I seen you at the theatre, Sir?′
′Certainly,′ replied the unabashed stranger.
′He is a strolling actor!′ said the lieutenant contemptuously, turning to Doctor Slammer.—′He acts in the piece that the officers of the 52nd get up at the Rochester Theatre to-morrow night. You cannot proceed in this affair, Slammer—impossible!′
′Quite!′ said the dignified Payne.
′Sorry to have placed you in this disagreeable situation,′ said Lieutenant Tappleton, addressing Mr. Pickwick; ′allow me to suggest, that the best way of avoiding a recurrence of such scenes in future will be to be more select in the choice of your companions. Good-evening, Sir!′ and the lieutenant bounced out of the room.
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