y good-humoured;
and, quite forgetful of the words which had passed between him and Mr.
Eglantine's lieutenant the day before, began addressing the latter with
extreme cordiality.

"A good morning to you, Mr. Mossrose," said Captain Walker. "Why, sir,
you look as fresh as your namesake--you do, indeed, now, Mossrose."

"You look ash yellow ash a guinea," responded Mr. Mossrose, sulkily. He
thought the Captain was hoaxing him.

"My good sir," replies the other, nothing cast down, "I drank rather too
freely last night."

"The more beast you!" said Mr. Mossrose.

"Thank you, Mossrose; the same to you," answered the Captain.

"If you call me a beast, I'll punch your head off!" answered the young
man, who had much skill in the art which many of his brethren practise.

"I didn't, my fine fellow," replied Walker. "On the contrary, you--"

"Do you mean to give me the lie?" broke out the indignant Mossrose, who
hated the agent fiercely, and did not in the least care to conceal his
hate.

In fact, it was his fixed purpose to pick a quarrel with Walker, and to
drive him, if possible, from Mr. Eglantine's shop. "Do you mean to give
me the lie, I say, Mr. Hooker Walker?"

"For Heaven's sake, Amos, hold your tongue!" exclaimed the Captain, to
whom the name of Hooker was as poison; but at this moment a customer
stepping in, Mr. Amos exchanged his ferocious aspect for a bland grin,
and Mr. Walker walked into the studio.

When in Mr. Eglantine's presence, Walker, too, was all smiles in a
minute, sank down on a settee, held out his hand to the perfumer, and
began confidentially discoursing with him.

"SUCH a dinner, Tiny my boy," said he; "such prime fellows to eat
it, too! Billingsgate, Vauxhall, Cinqbars, Buff of the Blues, and
half-a-dozen more of the best fellows in town. And what do you think the
dinner cost a head? I'll wager you'll never guess."

"Was it two guineas a head?--In course I mean without wine," said the
genteel perfumer.

"Guess again!"

"Well, was it ten guineas a head? I'll guess any sum you please,"
replied Mr. Eglantine: "for I know that when you NOBS are together, you
don't spare your money. I myself, at the "Star and Garter" at Richmond,
once paid--"

"Eighteenpence?"

"Heighteenpence, sir!--I paid five-and-thirty shillings per 'ead. I'd
have you to know that I can act as a gentleman as well as any other
gentleman, sir," answered the perfumer with much dignity.

"Well, eighteenpence was wh