Chapter 43: XLII

XLII Illustrative, like the preceding one, of the old proverb, that adversity brings a man acquainted with strange bedfellows—likewise containing Mr. Pickwick’s extraordinary and startling announcement to Mr. Samuel Weller. When Mr. Pickwick opened his eyes next morning, the first object upon which they rested was Samuel Weller, seated upon a small black portmanteau, intently regarding, apparently in a condition of profound abstraction, the stately figure of the dashing Mr. Smangle; whil…