'Here you are, sir,' shouted a strange-looking specimen of the human race. This man was wearing a cheap coat and apron and had a brass label and number round his neck, so he looked as if he were an exhibit in some collection. This was the porter. 'Here you are, sir. Now, then, first cab!' And the first cabbie was fetched from the public-house, where he had been smoking his first pipe. Mr Pickwick and his suitcase were thrown into the vehicle.

'I want to go to Golden Cross,' said Mr Pickwick.

'Only a bob's worth, Tommy,' the driver told his friend the porter, as the cab drove off. The driver had hoped Pickwick wanted to go further and pay more.

'How old is that horse, my friend?' inquired Mr Pickwick, holding the shilling he would use to pay the cabbie.

'Forty-two,' replied the driver, giving Pickwick a strangely angry look.

'What!' exclaimed Mr Pickwick, laying his hand upon his note-book. The driver repeated his statement. Mr Pickwick looked very hard at the man's face to see if he was joking, but the cabbie's features were immobile. So Pickwick noted down the fact forthwith. 'And how long do you take the horse out to work each time?' inquired Mr Pickwick, searching for further information.

Vocabulary:

Specimen: Example from a larger group.
Apron: Something worn over the front of clothes to protect them.
Brass: A shing yellow metal.
Exhibit: Somnething on display
Cabbie: Taxi driver.
Bob's worth: A 'bob' is a shilling - the driver is saying that his passenger will only need to pay 12 pence
Features: The parts of his face.
Immobile: Not moving (or here, not smiling)
Forthwith: Immediately.