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"N-not very," said Richling; "my hand is large and legible, but not well adapted for book-keeping; it's too heavy." "You 'ave the 'ight physio'nomie, I am shu'. You will pe'haps believe me with difficulty, Mistoo Itchlin, but I assu' you I can tell if a man 'as a fine chi'og'aphy aw no, by juz lookin' upon his liniment. Do you know that Benjamin Fwanklin 'ote a v'ey fine chi'og'aphy, in fact?
I dunno 'ow 'tis, Doctah," he continued, preparing to go out, "I dunno 'ow 'tis, but I thing, you goin' to fine that Mistoo Itchlin ad the en'. I dunno 'ow 'tis. Well, I'm goin' ad the" The Doctor looked up fiercely. "Bank," said Narcisse, getting near the door. "All right!" grumbled the Doctor, more politely. "Yesseh befo' I go ad the poss-office."
Speakin' of close, Mistoo Itchlin, egscuse me if 'tis a fair question, w'at was yo' objec' in buyin' that tawpaulin hat an' jacket lass week ad that sto' on the levee? You din know I saw you, but I juz 'appen to see you, in fact." Sevier's step was on the stair. The Doctor shook hands with Richling and sank into the chair at his desk. "Anything turned up yet, Richling?"
"Ah, Mistoo Itchlin! if I had baw'd money ligue the huncle of my hant!" He waved his hand to the ceiling and looked up through that obstruction, as it were, to the witnessing sky. "But I hade that to baw'! I tell you 'ow 'tis with me, Mistoo Itchlin; I nevvah would consen' to baw' money on'y if I pay a big inte'es' on it.
Narcisse bowed solemnly. "Gone, Mistoo Itchlin. Since the seventeenth of last; yesseh. 'Kig the bucket, as the povvub say." He showed an extra band of black drawn neatly around his new straw hat. "I thought it but p'opeh to put some moaning as a species of twibute." He restored the hat to his head. "You like the tas'e of that, Mistoo Itchlin?"
"Yes!" exclaimed Narcisse, delighted at the unusual coincidence, "at the same time 'tis the tooth! In fact, why should I tell a lie about such a thing like that? 'Twould be useless. Pe'haps you may 'ave notiz, Mistoo Itchlin, thad the noozpapehs opine us fiahmen to be the gau'dians of the city." "Yes," responded Richling. "I think Dr. Sevier calls you the Mamelukes, doesn't he?
He stepped to the landing and looked down. There he went! "Mistoo 'Itchlin!" Richling failed to hear. Sharper ears might have served him better. He passed out by the street door. Narcisse stopped the auction by the noise he made coming downstairs after him. He had some trouble with the front door, lost time there, but got out. Richling was turning a corner.
Richling recalled the physician's saying concerning this very same little tale-bearer, that he carried his nonsense on top and his good sense underneath. "Dr. Sevier said that, did he?" asked Richling, after a time. "'Tis the vehbatim, seh. Convussing to yo' 'eve'end fwend. You can ask him; he will co'obo'ate me in fact. Well, Mistoo Itchlin, it supp'ise me you not tickle at that.
"If you will pummit me yo' attention a few moment'." He bowed again and made way for Mary to precede him. "Mistoo Itchlin," he continued, going in, "in fact you don't give Misses Witchlin my last name with absolute co'ectness." "Did I not? Why, I hope you'll pardon" "Oh, I'm glad of it. I don' feel lak a pusson is my fwen' whilst they don't call me Nahcisse."
He glanced so suddenly at two or three street lads, who were the only on-lookers, that they shrank back a step. "Mistoo Itchlin," began Narcisse, once more, in a tone of polite dismay, "you aztonizh me. I assu' you, Mistoo Itchlin" Richling lifted his finger and shook it. "Don't you tell me that, sir! I will not be an object of astonishment to you! Not to you, sir! Not to you!"