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Updated: May 28, 2025
Nicholas took a chair, and Mr Gregsbury stared at him for a long time, as if to make certain, before he asked any further questions, that there were no objections to his outward appearance. 'You want to be my secretary, do you? he said at length. 'I wish to be employed in that capacity, sir, replied Nicholas. 'Well, said Mr Gregsbury; 'now what can you do?
Gregsbury in Nicholas Nickleby, full of affability and importance, introducing the selected spokesmen "Our worthy mayor; our leading employer of labour; Miss Twoshoes, a philanthropic worker in all good causes" the Minister, profoundly ignorant of the whole subject, smiling blandly or gazing earnestly from his padded chair; the Permanent Official at his elbow murmuring what the "practice of the department" has been, what his predecessor said on a similar occasion ten years ago, and why the object of the deputation is equally mischievous and impossible; and the Minister finally expressing sympathy and promising earnest consideration.
'Then how came you here, sir? was the natural inquiry of Mr Gregsbury, MP. 'And where the devil have you come from, sir? was the question which followed it. 'I brought this card from the General Agency Office, sir, said Nicholas, 'wishing to offer myself as your secretary, and understanding that you stood in need of one.
'That's all you have come for, is it? said Mr Gregsbury, eyeing him in some doubt. Nicholas replied in the affirmative. 'You have no connection with any of those rascally papers have you? said Mr Gregsbury. 'You didn't get into the room, to hear what was going forward, and put it in print, eh?
The servant was a very pale, shabby boy, who looked as if he had slept underground from his infancy, as very likely he had. 'Mr Gregsbury? said he; 'Mr Gregsbury lodges here. It's all right. Come in! Nicholas thought he might as well get in while he could, so in he walked; and he had no sooner done so, than the boy shut the door, and made off.
'They include, I presume, correspondence? 'Good, interposed Mr Gregsbury. 'The arrangement of papers and documents? 'Very good. 'Occasionally, perhaps, the writing from your dictation; and possibly, sir, said Nicholas, with a half-smile, 'the copying of your speech for some public journal, when you have made one of more than usual importance. 'Certainly, rejoined Mr Gregsbury. 'What else?
The last man being gone, Mr Gregsbury rubbed his hands and chuckled, as merry fellows will, when they think they have said or done a more than commonly good thing; he was so engrossed in this self-congratulation, that he did not observe that Nicholas had been left behind in the shadow of the window-curtains, until that young gentleman, fearing he might otherwise overhear some soliloquy intended to have no listeners, coughed twice or thrice, to attract the member's notice.
'Go on to the next one, my dear Pugstyles, said Mr Gregsbury. 'Have you any explanation to offer with reference to that question, sir? asked Mr Pugstyles. 'Certainly not, said Mr Gregsbury. The members of the deputation looked fiercely at each other, and afterwards at the member.
'My meaning, sir, is perfectly plain, replied Mr Gregsbury with a solemn aspect.
To this, Mr Gregsbury read the following reply, which, anticipating the request, he had composed in the form of a letter, whereof copies had been made to send round to the newspapers.
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