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Updated: September 4, 2025
'I am quite aware of that, retorted Madame Mantalini, tossing her head; 'and I have none. The business, the stock, this house, and everything in it, all belong to Miss Knag. 'That's quite true, Madame Mantalini, said Miss Knag, with whom her late employer had secretly come to an amicable understanding on this point. 'Very true, indeed, Madame Mantalini hem very true.
There was, however, the sound of voices in conversation in the next room; and as the conversation was loud and the partition thin, Kate could not help discovering that they belonged to Mr and Mrs Mantalini.
'Dear me, child! exclaimed Madame Mantalini, recoiling in surprise. 'How came you here? 'Child! cried Mantalini, hurrying in. 'How came eh! oh demmit, how d'ye do? 'I have been waiting, here some time, ma'am, said Kate, addressing Madame Mantalini. 'The servant must have forgotten to let you know that I was here, I think.
To do the excellent Miss Knag justice, she had been mainly instrumental in bringing about this altered state of things, for, finding by daily experience, that there was no chance of the business thriving, or even continuing to exist, while Mr Mantalini had any hand in the expenditure, and having now a considerable interest in its well-doing, she had sedulously applied herself to the investigation of some little matters connected with that gentleman's private character, which she had so well elucidated, and artfully imparted to Madame Mantalini, as to open her eyes more effectually than the closest and most philosophical reasoning could have done in a series of years.
Meantime the fools bring grist to my mill, so let them live out their day, and the longer it is, the better. These agreeable reflections occurred to Ralph Nickleby, as sundry small caresses and endearments, supposed to be unseen, were exchanged between the objects of his thoughts. 'If you have nothing more to say, my dear, to Mr Nickleby, said Madame Mantalini, 'we will take our leaves.
'You really must see to that man, said Madame, turning to her husband. 'He forgets everything. 'I will twist his demd nose off his countenance for leaving such a very pretty creature all alone by herself, said her husband. 'Mantalini, cried Madame, 'you forget yourself.
'You were flirting with her during the whole night, said Madame Mantalini, apparently desirous to lead the conversation back to the point from which it had strayed. 'No, no, my life. 'You were, said Madame; 'I had my eye upon you all the time. 'Bless the little winking twinkling eye; was it on me all the time! cried Mantalini, in a sort of lazy rapture. 'Oh, demmit!
'Now, ma'am, said Ralph, who had looked on, at all this, with such scorn as few men can express in looks, 'this is my niece. 'Just so, Mr Nickleby, replied Madame Mantalini, surveying Kate from head to foot, and back again. 'Can you speak French, child?
And yet Madame Mantalini was not weeping upon the body, but was scolding violently upon her chair; and all this amidst a clamour of tongues perfectly deafening, and which really appeared to have driven the unfortunate footman to the utmost verge of distraction. 'What is the matter here? said Ralph, pressing forward.
It was with a heavy heart, and many sad forebodings which no effort could banish, that Kate Nickleby, on the morning appointed for the commencement of her engagement with Madame Mantalini, left the city when its clocks yet wanted a quarter of an hour of eight, and threaded her way alone, amid the noise and bustle of the streets, towards the west end of London.
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