'That is what alarms me so much.' 'Instant measures must be taken,' said Mr.Pickwick.

'I will see the lady who keeps the establishment immediately.' 'I beg your pardon, Sir,' said Job, 'but that course of proceeding will never do.' 'Why not ?' inquired Mr.Pickwick.
'My master, sir, is a very artful man.' 'I know he is,' said Mr.Pickwick.
'And he has so wound himself round the old lady's heart, Sir,' resumed Job, 'that she would believe nothing to his prejudice, if you went down on your bare knees, and swore it; especially as you have no proof but the word of a servant, who, for anything she knows (and my master would be sure to say so), was discharged for some fault, and does this in revenge.' 'What had better be done, then ?' said Mr.Pickwick.
'Nothing but taking him in the very act of eloping, will convince the old lady, sir,' replied Job.
'All them old cats WILL run their heads agin milestones,' observed Mr.
Weller, in a parenthesis.
'But this taking him in the very act of elopement, would be a very difficult thing to accomplish, I fear,' said Mr.Pickwick.
'I don't know, sir,' said Mr.Trotter, after a few moments' reflection.
'I think it might be very easily done.' 'How ?' was Mr.Pickwick's inquiry.
'Why,' replied Mr.Trotter, 'my master and I, being in the confidence of the two servants, will be secreted in the kitchen at ten o'clock.

When the family have retired to rest, we shall come out of the kitchen, and the young lady out of her bedroom.

A post-chaise will be waiting, and away we go.' 'Well ?' said Mr.Pickwick.
'Well, sir, I have been thinking that if you were in waiting in the garden behind, alone--' 'Alone,' said Mr.Pickwick.

'Why alone ?' 'I thought it very natural,' replied Job, 'that the old lady wouldn't like such an unpleasant discovery to be made before more persons than can possibly be helped.