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Then, three or four little boys dropped in, on legal errands from three or four attorneys of the Brass grade: whom Mr Swiveller received and dismissed with about as professional a manner, and as correct and comprehensive an understanding of their business, as would have been shown by a clown in a pantomime under similar circumstances.
'But what, said Mr Swiveller with a sigh, 'what is the odds so long as the fire of soul is kindled at the taper of conwiviality, and the wing of friendship never moults a feather! What is the odds so long as the spirit is expanded by means of rosy wine, and the present moment is the least happiest of our existence! 'You needn't act the chairman here, said his friend, half aside.
I like to think of my ancestors, middle-aged or venerable gentlemen, all sitting round a table and explaining that they would never forget old days or friends with a rumpty-iddity-iddity, or letting it be known that they would die for England's glory with their tooral ooral, etc. I greatly prefer Mr. Richard Swiveller to Mr. Stanley Ortheris.
'You have deceived an orphan, Sir, said Mr Swiveller solemnly. 'I! I'm a second father to you, replied Quilp. 'You my father, Sir! retorted Dick. 'Being all right myself, Sir, I request to be left alone instantly, Sir. 'What a funny fellow you are! cried Quilp. 'Go, Sir, returned Dick, leaning against a post and waving his hand.
Mr Swiveller, assenting, armed himself with his stool and the large ruler, and repaired with his employer to the scene of action, where Miss Brass was already ringing a hand-bell with all her might, and yet without producing the smallest effect upon their mysterious lodger. 'There are his boots, Mr Richard! said Brass. 'Very obstinate-looking articles they are too, quoth Richard Swiveller.
Mr Abel remained behind, very often looking at his watch and at the room door, until Mr Swiveller was roused from a short nap, by the setting-down on the landing-place outside, as from the shoulders of a porter, of some giant load, which seemed to shake the house, and made the little physic bottles on the mantel-shelf ring again.
Burning with curiosity to know what proceedings were afoot, he resolved to pounce upon Kit's mother as the person least able to resist his arts, and consequently the most likely to be entrapped into such revelations as he sought; so taking an abrupt leave of Mr Swiveller, he hurried to her house.
To solve this question, Mr Swiveller summoned the handmaid and ascertained that Miss Sophy Wackles had indeed left the letter with her own hands; and that she had come accompanied, for decorum's sake no doubt, by a younger Miss Wackles; and that on learning that Mr Swiveller was at home and being requested to walk upstairs, she was extremely shocked and professed that she would rather die.
Just over the way, repeats Mr Brass's gentleman, with a glance at the court. 'Alone, sir? 'I beg your pardon, says Mr Swiveller, who has not caught the question 'Alone, sir? repeats Mr Brass's gentleman in a voice of thunder, 'did you dine alone? Did you treat anybody, sir? Come! 'Oh yes, to be sure yes, I did, says Mr Swiveller with a smile.
'It has always been the same with me, said Mr Swiveller, 'always. 'Twas ever thus from childhood's hour I've seen my fondest hopes decay, I never loved a tree or flower but 'twas the first to fade away; I never nursed a dear Gazelle, to glad me with its soft black eye, but when it came to know me well, and love me, it was sure to marry a market-gardener.
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