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At this point of the conversation, Mr Tookey entered the hall-door, and some fashion of introduction took place between the two strangers. John Gordon led the way into a private room, and the two others followed him. "Here's a gentleman anxious to buy my shares, Tookey," said Gordon. "What! the whole lot of the old Stick-in-the-Mud? He'll have to shell down some money in order to do that!
The fact is, I do not know whether I shall remain in England or return. If I do come back I am not likely to find anything better than the old Stick-in-the-Mud." To this Mr Tookey assented, but still he resolved that he would go home. Hence it came to pass that Mr Fitzwalker Tookey was now in London, and that John Gordon had to see him frequently.
"There's a consperacy to turn me out o' the choir, as I shouldn't share the Christmas money that's where it is. But I shall speak to Mr. Crackenthorp; I'll not be put upon by no man." "Nay, nay, Tookey," said Ben Winthrop. "We'll pay you your share to keep out of it that's what we'll do. There's things folks 'ud pay to be rid on, besides varmin."
Dimsdale and Garraway, the Scotch half-backs, and Tookey, the quarter, whose blazing red head was a very oriflamme wherever the struggle waxed hottest, were the best men that the Northerners could boast of behind. The English had won the choice of goals, and elected to play with what slight wind there was at their backs. A small thing may turn the scale between two evenly balanced teams.
Here Tookey had found another would-be partner, who had the needed money, and it was fervently desired by Mr Tookey that John Gordon might not go back to South Africa. The two men were not at all like in their proclivities; but they had been thrown together, and each had learned much of the inside life of the other.
The sort of acquaintance with whom a steady man becomes intimate in such a locality often surprises the steady man himself. Fitzwalker Tookey had the antecedents and education of a gentleman. Champagne and lobster suppers the lobster coming out of tin cases, diamonds and strange ladies, even with bloated cheeks and strong language, had not altogether destroyed the vestiges of the Temple.
It's your inside as isn't right made for music: it's no better nor a hollow stalk." This kind of unflinching frankness was the most piquant form of joke to the company at the Rainbow, and Ben Winthrop's insult was felt by everybody to have capped Mr. Macey's epigram. "I see what it is plain enough," said Mr. Tookey, unable to keep cool any longer.
Tookey, when the zealous deputy, feeling that this was a view of the case peculiarly suited to a parish-clerk, carried it still farther, and doubted whether it was right to inquire into a robbery at all when the circumstances were so mysterious. "As if," concluded Mr. Tookey "as if there was nothing but what could be made out by justices and constables."
He at any rate was fond of a companion with whom he could discuss his English regrets, and John Gordon was not inclined to shut himself up altogether among his precious stones, and to refuse the conversation of a man who could talk. Tookey had told him of his great distress in reference to his wife. "By G ! you know, the cruellest thing you ever heard in the world.
The whole picture of life, too, at the Fields was not made attractive by Mr Tookey's description. He was not afraid of the reception which might be accorded to Mrs Tookey, but saw that Tookey found himself able to threaten him with violent evils, simply because he would claim his own.
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