 no,« said Mr. Pinch, »not at all. Oh dear no! Well!« And then
remembering that Mr. Pecksniff had privately cautioned him to say nothing in
reference to the old gentleman of the same name who had lodged at the Dragon,
but to reserve all mention of that person for him, he had no better means of
hiding his confusion, than by raising his own glass to his mouth. They looked at
each other out of their respective tumblers for a few seconds, and then put them
down empty.
    »I told them in the stable to be ready for us ten minutes ago,« said Mr.
Pinch, glancing at the clock again. »Shall we go?«
    »If you please,« returned the other.
    »Would you like to drive?« said Mr. Pinch; his whole face beaming with a
consciousness of the splendour of his offer. »You shall, if you wish.«
    »Why, that depends, Mr. Pinch,« said Martin, laughing, »upon what sort of a
horse you have. Because if he's a bad one, I would rather keep my hands warm by
holding them comfortably in my great-coat pockets.«
    He appeared to think this such a good joke, that Mr. Pinch was quite sure it
must be a capital one. Accordingly, he laughed too, and was fully persuaded that
he enjoyed it very much. Then he settled his bill, and Mr. Chuzzlewit paid for
the punch; and having wrapped themselves up, to the extent of their respective
means, they went out together to the front door, where Mr. Pecksniff's property
stopped the way.
    »I won't drive, thank you, Mr, Pinch,« said Martin, getting into the
sitter's place. »By-the-bye, there's a box of mine. Can we manage to take it?«
    »Oh, certainly,« said Tom. »Put it in, Dick, anywhere!«
    It was not precisely of that convenient size which would admit of its being
squeezed into any odd corner, but Dick the hostler got it in somehow, and Mr.
Chuzzlewit helped him. It was all on Mr. Pinch's side, and Mr. Chuzzlewit said
he was very much afraid it would encumber him; to which Tom said, »Not at all;«
though it forced him into such an awkward position, that he had much ado to see
anything but his own knees. But it is an ill wind that blows
