‘ What did you do in my garden, man?’ said Miss Tomkins, in a faint voice.
‘ I came to warn you that one of your young ladies was going to elope to-night,’ replied Mr. Pickwick, from the interior of the closet.
‘ Elope!’ exclaimed Miss Tomkins, the three teachers, the thirty boarders, and the five servants. ‘Who with?’
Your friend, Mr. Charles Fitz-Marshall.’
‘ My friend! I don’t know any such person.’
‘ Well, Mr. Jingle, then.’
‘ I never heard the name in my life.’
‘ Then, I have been deceived, and deluded,’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘I have been the victim of a conspiracy—a foul and base conspiracy. Send to the Angel, my dear ma’am, if you don’t believe me. Send to the Angel for Mr. Pickwick’s manservant, I implore you, ma’am.’
‘ He must be respectable—he keeps a manservant,’
