Martin and Mark sat staring at each other, as if they could not believe it; but there stood the landlord, and the other man still. In spite of the indignation with which this glimpse of Mr. Pecksniff had inspired him, Martin could not help laughing heartily. Neither could Mark.
`We must inquire into this!' said Martin. `Ask the landlord in, Mark.'
Mr. Tapley retired for that purpose, and immediately returned with their large-headed host in safe convoy.
`Pray, landlord!' said Martin, `who is that gentleman who passed just now, and whom you were looking after?'
The landlord poked the fire as if, in his desire to make the most of his answer, he had become indifferent even to the price of coals; and putting his hands in his pockets, said, after inflating himself to give still further effect to his reply:
`That, gentlemen, is the great Mr. Pecksniff! The celebrated architect, gentlemen!'
He looked from one to the other while he said it, as if he were ready to assist the first man who might be overcome by the intelligence.
`The great Mr. Pecksniff, the celebrated architect, gentlemen.' said the landlord, `has come down here, to help to lay the first stone of a new and splendid public building.'
`Is it to be built from his designs?' asked Martin.
`The great Mr. Pecksniff, the celebrated architect, gentlemen,' returned the landlord, who seemed to have an unspeakable delight in the repetition of these words, `carried off the First Premium, and will erect the building.'
`Who lays the stone?' asked Martin.
`Our member has come down express,' returned the landlord. `No scrubs would do for no such a purpose. Nothing less would satisfy our Directors than our member in the House of Commons, who is returned upon the Gentlemanly Interest.'
`Which interest is that?' asked Martin.
`What, don't you know!' returned the landlord.
It was quite clear the landlord didn't. They always told him at election time, that it was the Gentlemanly side, and he immediately put on his top-boots, and voted for it.
`When does the ceremony take place?' asked Martin.
`This day,' replied the landlord. Then pulling out his watch, he added, impressively, `almost this minute.'
Martin hastily inquired whether there was any possibility of getting in to witness it; and finding that there would be no objection to the admittance of any decent person, unless indeed the ground were full, hurried off with Mark, as hard as they could go.
They were fortunate enough to squeeze themselves into a famous corner on the ground, where they could see all that passed, without much dread of being beheld by Mr. Pecksniff in return. They were not a minute too soon, for as they were in the act of congratulating each other, a great noise was heard at some distance, and everybody looked towards the gate.
Several ladies prepared their pocket handkerchiefs for waving; and a stray teacher belonging to the charity school being much cheered by mistake, was immensely groaned at when detected.
`Perhaps he has Tom Pinch with him,' Martin whispered Mr. Tapley.
`It would be rather too much of a treat for him, wouldn't it, sir?' whispered Mr. Tapley in return.
There was no time to discuss the probabilities either way, for the charity school, in clean linen, came filing in two and two, so much to the self-approval of all the people present who didn't subscribe to it that many of them shed tears. A band of music followed, led by a conscientious drummer who never left off. Then came a great many gentlemen with wands in their hands, and bows on their breasts, whose share in the proceedings did not appear to be distinctly laid down, and who trod upon each other, and blocked up the entry for a considerable period. These were followed by the Mayor and Corporation, all clustering round the member for the Gentlemanly Interest; who had the great Mr. Pecksniff, the celebrated architect on his right hand, and conversed with him familiarly as they came along. Then the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and the gentlemen their hats, and the charity children shrieked, and the member for the Gentlemanly Interest bowed.
Silence being restored, the member for the Gentlemanly Interest rubbed his hands, and wagged his head, and looked about him pleasantly; and there was nothing this member did, at which some lady or other did not burst into an ecstatic waving of her pocket handkerchief. When he looked up at the stone, they said how graceful! when he peeped into the hole, they said how condescending! when he chatted with the Mayor, they said how easy! when he folded his arms they cried with one accord, how statesman-like!
Mr. Pecksniff was observed too; closely. When he talked to the Mayor, they said, Oh, really, what a courtly man he was! When he laid his hand upon the mason's shoulder, giving him directions, how pleasant his demeanour to the working classes. just the sort of man who made their toil a pleasure to them, poor dear souls!