man like that spoke to me as her dearest Mr. | Mr. Riah's not society. In society, Mr. Riah is Fledgeby, and shed tears-why what could I kept dark; eh, Mr. Twemlow?" do, you know?" But Twemlow gasped "Nothing but come." "Nothing but come. And so I came. why," said Fledgeby, putting his hands in his pockets and counterfeiting deep meditation, "why Riah should have started up, when I told him that the Lammles entreated him to hold over a Bill of Sale he has on all their effects; and why he should have cut out, saying he would be back directly; and why he should have left me here alone so long; I can not understand." The chivalrous Twemlow, Knight of the Simple Heart, was not in a condition to offer any suggestion. He was too penitent, too remorseful. For the first time in his life he had done an underhanded action, and he had done wrong. He had secretly interposed against this confiding young man, for no better real reason than because the young man's ways were not his ways. But, the confiding young man proceeded to heap coals of fire on his sensitive head. Twemlow, much disturbed, and with his hand fluttering about his forehead, replied: "Quite true." 66 The confiding young man besought him to state his case. The innocent Twemlow, expecting Fledgeby to be astounded by what he should unfold, and not for an instant conceiving the possibility of its happening every day, but treating of it as a terrible phenomenon occurring in the course of ages, related how that he had had a deceased friend, a married civil officer with a family, who had wanted money for change of place on change of post, and how he, Twemlow, had "given him his name," with the usual, but in the eyes of Twemlow almost incredible result that he had been left to repay what he had never had. How, in the course of years, he had reduced the principal by trifling sums, having,' said Twemlow, "always to observe great-economy, being in the enjoyment of a fixed income limited in extent, and that depending on the munificence of a certain nobleman," and had always pinched the full interest out of himself with punctual pinches. How he had come, in course of time, to look upon this one only debt of his life as a regular quarterly drawback, and no worse, when "his name" had some way fallen into the possession of Mr. Riah, who had sent him notice to redeem it by paying up in full, in one plump sum, or take tremendous consequences. This, with hazy remembrances of how he had been "I am even a poorer man of business than I carried to some office to "confess judgment" (as am a man, Sir," returned Twemlow, "and I he recollected the phrase), and how he had been could hardly express my deficiency in a stronger carried to another office where his life was asway. I really do not so much as clearly under-sured for somebody not wholly unconnected with stand my position in the matter on which I am the sherry trade whom he remembered by the brought here. But there are reasons which make remarkable circumstance that he had a Straduame very delicate of accepting your assistance. rius violin to dispose of, and also a Madonna, am greatly, greatly, disinclined to profit by it. formed the sum and substance of Mr. Twemlow's don't deserve it." narrative. Through which stalked the shadow of the awful Snigsworth, eyed afar off by moneylenders as Security in the Mist, and menacing Twemlow with his baronial truncheon. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Twemlow; you see I am acquainted with the nature of the affairs that are transacted here. Is there any thing I can do for you here? You have always been brought up as a gentleman, and never as a man of business;" another touch of possible impertinence in this place; "and perhaps you are but a poor man of business. What else is to be expected!" I I Good childish creature! Condemned to a passage through the world by such narrow little dimly-lighted ways, and picking up so few specks or spots on the road! "Perhaps," said Fledgeby, "you may be a little proud of entering on the topic-having been brought up as a gentleman." "It's not that, Sir," returned Twemlow, "it's not that. I hope I distinguish between true pride and false pride." "I have no pride at all, myself," said Fledgeby, "and perhaps I don't cut things so fine as to know one from t'other. But I know this is a place where even a man of business needs his wits about him; and if mine can be of any use to you here, you're welcome to them." To all, Mr. Fledgeby listened with the modest gravity becoming a confiding young man who knew it all beforehand, and, when it was finished, seriously shook his head. "I don't like, Mr. Twemlow," said Fledgeby, "I don't like Riah's calling in the principal. If he's determined to call it in, it must come. "But supposing, Sir," said Twemlow, downcast, "that it can't come?" "Then," retorted Fledgeby, "you must go, you know." "Where?" asked Twemlow, faintly. "You are very good," said Twemlow, falter- Mr. Twemlow leaned his innocent head upon his ing. "But I am most unwilling-" "I don't, you know," proceeded Fledgeby, with an ill-favored glance, "entertain the vanity of supposing that my wits could be of any use to you in society, but they might be here. You cultivate society and society cultivates you, but hand, and moaned a little moan of distress and disgrace. "However," said Fledgeby, appearing to pluck up his spirits, "we'll hope it's not so bad as that comes to. If you'll allow me, I'll mention to Mr. Riah when he comes in, who you are, and I'll tell him you're my friend, and I'll say my say for you, instead of your saying it for yourself; I may be able to do it in a more business-like way. You won't consider it a liberty?" "I thank you again and again, Sir," said Twemlow. "I am strong, strongly, disinclined to avail myself of your generosity, though my helplessness yields. For I can not but feel that I-to put it in the mildest form of speech-that I have done nothing to deserve it." 46 "Where can he be?" muttered Fledgeby, referring to his watch again. 'What can he have gone out for? Did you ever see him, Mr. Twemlow ?" "Never." "He is a thorough Jew to look at, but he is a more thorough Jew to deal with. He's worst when he's quiet. If he's quiet, I shall take it as a very bad sign. Keep your eye upon him when he comes in, and, if he's quiet, don't be hopeful. Here he is!-he looks quiet." With these words, which had the effect of causing the harmless Twemlow painful agitation, Mr. Fledgeby withdrew to his former post, and the old man entered the counting-house. "Why, Mr. Riah," said Fledgeby, "I thought you were lost!" The old man, glancing at the stranger, stood stock-still. He perceived that his master was leading up to the orders he was to take, and he waited to understand them. "I really thought," repeated Fledgeby slowly, "that you were lost, Mr. Riah. Why, now I look at you-but no, you can't have done it; no, you can't have done it!" Hat in hand, the old man lifted his head, and looked distressfully at Fledgeby, as seeking to know what new moral burden he was to bear. "You can't have rushed out to get the start of every body else, and put in that bill of sale at Lammle's?" said Fledgeby. "Say you haven't, Mr. Riah." "And don't," said Fledgeby, "don't, I entreat you as a favor, Mr. Riah, be so devilish meek, for I know what'll follow if you are. Look here, Mr. Riah. This gentleman is Mr. Twemlow." The Jew turned to him and bowed. That poor lamb bowed in return; polite, and terrified. "I have made such a failure," proceeded Fledgeby, "in trying to do any thing with you for my friend Lammle, that I've hardly a hope of doing any thing with you for my friend (and connection indeed) Mr. Twemlow. But I do think that if you would do a favor for any body, you would for me, and I won't fail for want of trying, and I've passed my promise to Mr. Twemlow besides. Now, Mr. Riah, here is Mr. Twemlow. Always good for his interest, always coming up to time, always paying his little way. Now, why should you press Mr. Twemlow? You can't have any spite against Mr. Twemlow! Why not be easy with Mr. Twemlow?" The old man looked into Fledgeby's little eyes for any sign of leave to be easy with Mr. Twemlow; but there was no sign in them. "Mr. Twemlow is no connection of yours, Mr. Riah," said Fledgeby; "you can't want to be even with him for having through life gone in for a gentleman and hung on to his Family. If Mr. Twemlow has a contempt for business, what can it matter to you?" "But pardon me," interposed the gentle victim, "I have not, I should consider it presumption." "There, Mr. Riah!" said Fledgeby, "isn't that handsomely said? Come! Make terms with me for Mr. Twemlow." The old man looked again for any sign of permission to spare the poor little gentleman. No. Mr. Fledgeby meant him to be racked. "I am very sorry, Mr. Twemlow," said Riah. "I have my instructions. I am invested with Sir, I have," replied the old man in a low no authority for diverging from them. The voice. money must be paid." 66 "Oh my eye!" cried Fledgeby. "Tut, tut, tut! Dear, dear, dear! Well! I knew you were a hard customer, Mr. Riah, but I never thought you were as hard as that." "In full and slap down, do you mean, Mr. Riah?" asked Fledgeby, to make things quite explicit. "In full, Sir, and at once," was Riah's an "Sir," said the old man, with great uneasi-swer. ness, "I do as I am directed. I am not the principal here. I am but the agent of a superior, and I have no choice, no power." "Don't say so," retorted Fledgeby, secretly exultant as the old man stretched out his hands, with a shrinking action of defending himself against the sharp construction of the two observers. "Don't play the tune of the trade, Mr. Riah. You've a right to get in your debts, if you're determined to do it, but don't pretend what every one in your line regularly pretends. At least, don't do it to me. Why should you, Mr. Riah? You know I know all about you." The old man clasped the skirt of his long coat with his disengaged hand, and directed a wistful look at Fledgeby. Mr. Fledgeby shook his head deploringly at Twemlow, and mutely expressed in reference to the venerable figure standing before him with eyes upon the ground: "What a Monster of an Israelite this is!" "Mr. Riah," said Fledgeby. The old man lifted up his eyes once more to the little eyes in Mr. Fledgeby's head, with some reviving hope that the sign might be coming yet. "Mr. Riah, it's of no use my holding back the fact. There's a certain great party in the back-ground in Mr. Twemlow's case, and you know it." "I know it," the old man admitted. "Now, I'll put it as a plain point of business. Mr. Riah. Are you fully determined (as a plain | in the perspective, rose with a sigh to take his point of business) either to have that said great departure. "I thank you very much, Sir," he party's security, or that said great party's mon- said, offering Fledgeby his feverish hand. "You have done me an unmerited service. Thank you, thank you!" ey ?" "Fully determined," answered Riah, as he read his master's face, and learned the book. "Not at all caring for, and indeed as it seems to me rather enjoying," said Fledgeby, with peculiar unction, "the precious kick-up and row that will come off between Mr. Twemlow and the said great party?" This required no answer, and received none. Poor Mr. Twemlow, who had betrayed the keenest mental terrors since his noble kinsman loomed "Don't mention it," answered Fledgeby. "It's a failure so far, but I'll stay behind, and take another tonch at Mr. Riah." "Do not deceive yourself, Mr. Twemlow," said the Jew, then addressing him directly for the first time. "There is no hope for you. You must expect no leniency here. You must pay in full, and you can not pay too promptly, or you will be put to heavy charges. Trust nothing to ME. WEGG PREPARES A GRINDSTONE FOR ME. BOFFIN'S NOSE. me, Sir. Money, money, money." When he had said these words in an emphatic manner, he acknowledged Mr. Twemlow's still polite motion of his head, and that amiable little worthy took his departure in the lowest spirits. Fascination Fledgeby was in such a merry vein when the counting-house was cleared of him, that he had nothing for it but to go to the window, and lean his arms on the frame of the blind, and have his silent laugh out, with his back to his subordinate. When he turned round again with a composed countenance, his subordinate still stood in the same place, and the dolls' dress-maker sat behind the door with a look of horror. "Halloa?" cried Mr. Fledgeby, "you're forgetting this young lady, Mr. Riah, and she has been waiting long enough too. Sell her her waste, please, and give her good measure if you can make up your mind to do the liberal thing for once." He looked on for a time, as the Jew filled her little basket with such scraps as she was used to buy; but, his merry vein coming on again, he was obliged to turn round to the window once more, and lean his arms on the blind. Mr. Boffin's notice as a third party whose company was much to be desired. Another friendly demonstration toward him Mr. Wegg now regularly gratified. After each sitting was over, and the patron had departed, Mr. Wegg invariably saw Mr. Venus home. To be sure, he as invariably requested to be refreshed with a sight of the paper in which he was a joint proprietor; but he never failed to remark that it was the great pleasure he derived from Mr. Venus's improving society which had insensibly lured him round to Clerkenwell again, and that, finding himself once more attracted to the spot by the social powers of Mr. V., he would beg leave to go through that little incidental procedure, as a matter of form. "For well I know, Sir," Mr. Wegg would add, "that a man of your delicate mind would wish to be checked off whenever the opportunity arises, and it is not for me to balk your feelings." A certain rustiness in Mr. Venus, which never became so lubricated by the oil of Mr. Wegg but that he turned under the screw in a creaking and stiff manner, was very noticeable at about this period. While assisting at the literary evenings he even went so far, on two or three occasions, as to correct Mr. Wegg when he grossly mispronounced a word, or made nonsense of a passage; insomuch that Mr. Wegg took to surveying his course in the day, and to making "Don't call me your Cinderella dear," re-arrangements for getting round rocks at night turned Miss Wren. "Oh you cruel godmother!" "There, my Cinderella dear," said the old man in a whisper, and with a worn-out look, "the basket's full now. Bless you! And get you gone!" instead of running straight upon them. Of the slightest anatomical reference he became particShe shook that emphatic little forefinger of ularly shy, and, if he saw a bone ahead, would hers in his face at parting, as earnestly and re-go any distance out of his way rather than menproachfully as she had ever shaken it at her grim old child at home. "You are not the godmother at all!" said she. "You are the Wolf in the Forest, the wicked Wolf! And if ever my dear Lizzie is sold and betrayed, I shall know who sold and betrayed her!" CHAPTER XIV. MR. WEGG PREPARES A GRINDSTONE FOR MR. BOFFIN'S NOSE. HAVING assisted at a few more expositions of the lives of Misers, Mr. Venus became almost indispensable to the evenings at the Bower. The circumstance of having another listener to the wonders unfolded by Wegg, or, as it were, another calculator to cast up the guineas found in tea-pots, chimneys, racks, and mangers, and other such banks of deposit, seemed greatly to heighten Mr. Boffin's enjoyment; while Silas Wegg, for his part, though of a jealous temperament which might under ordinary circumstances have resented the anatomist's getting into favor, was so very anxious to keep his eye on that gentleman-lest, being too much left to himself, he should be tempted to play any tricks with the precious document in his keeping-that he never lost an opportunity of commending him to VOL. XXXI.-No. 182.-R tion it by name. The adverse destinies ordained that one evening Mr. Wegg's laboring bark became beset by polysyllables, and embarrassed among a perfect archipelago of hard words. It being necessary to take soundings every minute, and to feel the way with the greatest caution, Mr. Wegg's attention was fully employed. Advantage was taken of this dilemma by Mr. Venus to pass a scrap of paper into Mr. Boffin's hand, and lay his finger on his own lip. When Mr. Boffin got home at night he found that the paper contained Mr. Venus's card and these words: "Should be glad to be honored with a call respecting business of your own, about dusk on an early evening." The very next evening saw Mr. Boffin peeping in at the preserved frogs in Mr. Venus's shop-window, and saw Mr. Venus espying Mr. Boffin with the readiness of one on the alert, and beckoning that gentleman into his interior. Responding, Mr. Boffin was invited to seat himself on the box of human miscellanies before the fire, and did so, looking round the place with admiring eyes. The fire being low and fitful, and the dusk gloomy, the whole stock seemed to be winking and blinking with both eyes, as Mr. Venus did. The French gentleman, though he had no eyes, was not at all behindhand, but appeared, as the flame rose and fell, to open and shut his no eyes, with the regularity of the glass-eyed dogs and ducks and birds. The bigheaded babies were equally obliging in lending their grotesque aid to the general effect. onght at once to have made it known to you. But I didn't, Mr. Boffin, and I fell into it." Without moving eye or finger, Mr. Boffin gave another nod, and placidly repeated, “Quite so, "You see, Mr. Venus, I've lost no time," said Venus." Mr. Boffin. "Here I am." "Here you are, Sir," assented Mr. Venus. "I don't like secrecy,” pursued Mr. Boffin"at least, not in a general way I don't-but I dare say you'll show me good reason for being secret so far." "I think I shall, Sir," returned Venus. "Good," ," said Mr. Boffin. "You don't expect Wegg, I take it for granted ?" "No, Sir. I expect no one but the present company." Mr. Boffin glanced about him, as accepting under that inclusive denomination the French gentleman and the circle in which he didn't move, and repeated, "The present company." "Sir," said Mr. Venus, "before entering upon business, I shall have to ask you for your word and honor that we are in confidence." "Let's wait a bit and understand what the expression means," answered Mr. Boffin. "In confidence for how long? In confidence forever and a day?" "I take your hint, Sir," said Venus; "you think you might consider the business, when you came to know it, to be of a nature incompatible with confidence on your part?" "I might," said Mr. Boffin, with a cautious look. "Not that I was ever hearty in it, Sir," the penitent antagonist went on, or that I ever viewed myself with any thing but reproach for having turned out of the paths of science into the paths of-" He was going to say "villainy," but, unwilling to press too hard upon himself, substituted with great emphasis-"Weggery." Placid and whimsical of look as ever, Mr. Boffin answered: "Quite so, Venus." "And now, Sir," said Venus, "having prepared your mind in the rough, I will articulate the details." With which brief professional exordium, he entered on the history of the friendly move, and truly recounted it. One might have thought that it would have extracted some show of surprise or anger, or other emotion, from Mr. Boffin, but it extracted nothing beyond his former comment: "Quite so, Venus." "I have astonished you, Sir, I believe?" said Mr. Venus, pausing dubiously. Mr. Boffin simply answered as aforesaid: "Quite so, Venus." By this time the astonishment was all on the other side. It did not, however, so continue. For, when Venus passed to Wegg's discovery, and from that to their having both seen Mr. Boffin dig up the Dutch bottle, that gentleman changed color, changed his attitude, became ex"True, Sir. Well, Sir," observed Venus, aft-tremely restless, and ended (when Venus ended) er clutching at his dusty hair, to brighten his by being in a state of manifest anxiety, trepidaideas, "let us put it another way. I open the tion, and confusion. business with you, relying upon your honor not to do any thing in it, and not to mention me in it, without my knowledge." "That sounds fair," said Mr. Boffin. agree to that." "I have your word and honor, Sir ?" My good fellow," retorted Mr. Boffin, "you have my word; and how you can have that, without my honor too, I don't know. I've sorted a lot of dust in my time, but I never knew the two things go into separate heaps." "Now, Sir," said Venus, finishing off; "you best know what was in that Dutch bottle, and why you dug it up, and took it away. I don't "I pretend to know any thing more about it than I saw. All I know is this: I am proud of my calling after all (though it has been attended by one dreadful drawback which has told upon my heart, and almost equally upon my skeleton), and I mean to live by my calling. Putting the same meaning into other words, I do not mean to turn a single dishonest penny by this affair. As the best amends I can make you for having ever gone into it, I make known to you, as a warning, what Wegg has found out. My opinion is, that Wegg is not to be silenced at a mod"Mr. Boffin, if I confess to you that I fell est price, and I build that opinion on his begininto a proposal of which you were the sub-ning to dispose of your property the moment he ject, and of which you oughtn't to have been the subject, you will allow me to mention, and will please take into favorable consideration, that I was in a crushed state of mind at the time." This remark seemed rather to abash Mr. Venus. He hesitated, and said, "Very true, Sir;" and again, "Very true, Sir," before resuming the thread of his discourse. knew his power. Whether it's worth your while The Golden Dustman, with his hands folded on the top of his stout stick, with his chin rest-ended." ing upon them, and with something leering and whimsical in his eyes, gave a nod, and said, "Quite so, Venus." "That proposal, Sir, was a conspiring breach of your confidence, to such an extent, that I If "Thank'ee, Venus!" said Mr. Boffin, with a hearty grip of his hand; “thank’ee, Venus, thank'ee, Venus!" And then walked up and down the little shop in great agitation. "But look here, Venus," he by-and-by resumed, nerv |