all laughed; and I went home and cleaned
myself, leaving Fixem there, and when I went back, Fixem went away, and I
polished up the plate, and waited at table, and gammoned the servants,
and nobody had the least idea I was in possession, though it very nearly
came out after all; for one of the last gentlemen who remained, came
down-stairs into the hall where I was sitting pretty late at night, and
putting half-a-crown into my hand, says, "Here, my man," says he, "run
and get me a coach, will you?" I thought it was a do, to get me out of
the house, and was just going to say so, sulkily enough, when the
gentleman (who was up to everything) came running down-stairs, as if he
was in great anxiety. "Bung," says he, pretending to be in a consuming
passion. "Sir," says I. "Why the devil an't you looking after that
plate?"--"I was just going to send him for a coach for me," says the
other gentleman. "And I was just a-going to say," says I--"Anybody else,
my dear fellow," interrupts the master of the house, pushing me down the
passage to get out of the way--"anybody else; but I have put this man in
possession of all the plate and valuables, and I cannot allow him on any
consideration whatever, to leave the house. Bung, you scoundrel, go and
count those forks in the breakfast-parlour instantly." You may be sure I
went laughing pretty hearty when I found it was all right. The money was
paid next day, with the addition of something else for myself, and that
was the best job that I (and I suspect old Fixem too) ever got in that
line.

'But this is the bright side of the picture, sir, after all,' resumed Mr.
Bung, laying aside the knowing look and flash air, with which he had
repeated the previous anecdote--'and I'm sorry to say, it's the side one
sees very, very seldom, in comparison with the dark one. The civility
which money will purchase, is rarely extended to those who have none; and
there's a consolation even in being able to patch up one difficulty, to
make way for another, to which very poor people are strangers. I was
once put into a house down George's-yard--that little dirty court at the
back of the gas-works; and I never shall forget the misery of them
people, dear me! It was a distress for half a year's rent--two pound
ten, I think. There was only two rooms in the house, and as there was no
passage, the lodgers up-stairs always went through the room of the people
of the house, as they passed in and out; and eve