n
accountant's clerk, that his income was fifty pounds a year, that he had
saved seven pounds, that he was engaged to a most charming person named
Felicia, whom at the present rate of his progress he hoped to marry in
about twenty years. Whipcord was discoursing on the points of every
racehorse in the calendar to the twins, who had evidently never seen a
racehorse; and Daly was telling stories which half choked Crow, and kept
us all in fits of laughter. It was a new life to me, this, and no
mistake.

"Now then, young Batchelor, walk into those sardines, do you hear?" said
our host. "Any more coffee, twins? Pass up those tea-cakes when you've
helped yourself, Crow. I got them for twopence apiece--not bad, eh? I
say, I suppose you've heard what's up in Hawk Street, eh?--jam to the
Field-Marshal there. Yes, Harris of the Imports told me: he heard it
from Morgan, who knows a fellow who knows old Merrett. Plenty more
potted meat in the cupboard; get out some, Batchelor, that's a good
fellow. The fact is--sugar enough in yours, Paddy?--the fact is, the
old boy is going to put in a nephew--pass up your cup, Adam, Abel,
what's your name, you with the paper in your button-hole?--what was your
mother about when she gave you such idiotic names, both of you? I'd
like to give her a piece of my mind!--a nephew or something of the
sort--that'll be the third kid in the last half-year landed in on us--
don't you call that lobster a good one for eighteen pence, Paddy, my
boy? Never mind, I'll let them know I'm not going to train up all their
young asses for nothing--hullo! Batchelor, beg pardon, old man; I
forgot you were one of them!"

This occasioned a laugh, which made me look very self-conscious; which
Doubleday saw, and tried to help me out.

"If they were all like you," he said, with a patronising smile, "it
wouldn't hurt; but that bull's-eye chum of yours is a drop too much for
an office like ours. Do you know, I believe it's a fact he's been in
gaol, or something of the sort--try a little vinegar with it, Field-
Marshal--capital thing for keeping down the fat. Never saw such a
temper, upon my word, did you, Crow? Why, he was nearly going to eat
_you_ up this very morning. And the best of it is, he thinks he's the
only fellow in the office who does a stroke of work. Never mind, he's
safe at home for a bit; but, my eye! won't he be astonished to find
Merrett, Barnacle, and Company can get on without him!"

I w