The old gentleman havingconcluded his dictation, and Mr. Snodgrass having returned his note-bookto his pocket, Mr. Pickwick said--'Excuse me, sir, for making the remark on so short an acquaintance; buta gentleman like yourself cannot fail, I should think, to have observedmany scenes and incidents worth recording, in the course of yourexperience as a minister of the Gospel.
The truth was, that the prince, forgetting the undoubtedright of the minister for foreign affairs to fall in love on his behalf,had, contrary to every precedent of policy and diplomacy, already fallenin love on his own account, and privately contracted himself unto thefair daughter of a noble Athenian.
Set down, Sir, ve make no extra charge for settin' down, as theking remarked wen he blowed up his ministers.