"O, admirably," said Mr. Benjamin Allen.
"My landlady is subject to slight attacks of mental derangement," remarked Bob Sawyer, with a ghastly smile; "I fear I must give her warning."
"No, don't," said Ben Allen.
"I fear I must," said Bob, with heroic firmness. "I'll pay her what I owe her and give her warning to-morrow morning."
Poor fellow! How devoutly he wished he could!... It was at the end of the chorus to the first verse that Mr. Pickwick held up his hand in a listening attitude, and said, as soon as silence was restored, "Hush! I beg your pardon. I thought I heard somebody calling from up-stairs."
A profound silence immediately ensued, and Mr. Bob Sawyer was observed to turn pale.
"I think I hear it now," said Mr. Pickwick. "Have the goodness to open the door."
The door was no sooner opened than all doubt on the subject was removed.
"Mr. Sawyer—Mr. Sawyer," screamed a voice from the two-pair landing.
"It's my landlady," said Bob Sawyer, looking round him with great dismay. "Yes, Mrs. Raddle."