You must have heard it from my servant; say, at all events, my dear fellow, that I am neither a robber nor a madman.' 'I have said so, my dear friend.

I have said so already,' replied Mr.
Wardle, shaking the right hand of his friend, while Mr.Trundle shook the left.

'And whoever says, or has said, he is,' interposed Mr.Weller, stepping forward, 'says that which is not the truth, but so far from it, on the contrary, quite the rewerse.

And if there's any number o' men on these here premises as has said so, I shall be wery happy to give 'em all a wery convincing proof o' their being mistaken, in this here wery room, if these wery respectable ladies 'll have the goodness to retire, and order 'em up, one at a time.' Having delivered this defiance with great volubility, Mr.Weller struck his open palm emphatically with his clenched fist, and winked pleasantly on Miss Tomkins, the intensity of whose horror at his supposing it within the bounds of possibility that there could be any men on the premises of Westgate House Establishment for Young Ladies, it is impossible to describe.
Mr.Pickwick's explanation having already been partially made, was soon concluded.

But neither in the course of his walk home with his friends, nor afterwards when seated before a blazing fire at the supper he so much needed, could a single observation be drawn from him.