 the most exquisite taste; and adornment refined with perfect harmony
and the chastest good keeping - compared with which, the fabled gorgeousness of
Eastern Fairy-land itself, would appear to be clothed in as many dark and murky
colours, as must be the mind of the splenetic and unmanly being who could
presume to taint with the venom of his envy, the preparations making by the
virtuous and highly distinguished lady, at whose shrine this humble tribute of
admiration was offered.« This last was a piece of biting sarcasm against the
Independent, who in consequence of not having been invited at all, had been
through four numbers affecting to sneer at the whole affair, in his very largest
type, with all the adjectives in capital letters.
    The morning came: it was a pleasant sight to behold Mr. Tupman in full
Brigand's costume, with a very tight jacket, sitting like a pincushion over his
back and shoulders: the upper portion of his legs encased in the velvet shorts,
and the lower part thereof swathed in the complicated bandages to which all
Brigands are peculiarly attached. It was pleasing to see his open and ingenuous
countenance, well mustachioed and corked, looking out from an open shirt collar;
and to contemplate the sugar-loaf hat, decorated with ribbons of all colours,
which he was compelled to carry on his knee, inasmuch as no known conveyance
with a top to it would admit of any man's carrying it between his head and the
roof. Equally humourous and agreeable was the appearance of Mr. Snodgrass in
blue satin trunks and cloak, white silk tights and shoes, and Grecian helmet:
which everybody knows (and if they do not, Mr. Solomon Lucas did) to have been
the regular, authentic, every-day costume of a Troubadour, from the earliest
ages down to the time of their final disappearance from the face of the earth.
All this was pleasant, but this was as nothing compared with the shouting of the
populace when the carriage drew up, behind Mr. Pott's chariot, which chariot
itself drew up at Mr. Pott's door, which door itself opened, and displayed the
great Pott accoutred as a Russian officer of justice, with a tremendous knout in
his hand - tastefully typical of the stern and mighty power of the Eatanswill
Gazette, and the fearful lashings it bestowed on public offenders.
    »Bravo!« shouted Mr. Tupman and Mr. Snodgrass from the passage, when they
beheld the walking allegory.
    »Bravo!« Mr. Pickwick was heard to exclaim, from the passage.
    »Hoo - roar Pott!
