eat favourite with Mr. Prigg, because, if anything in the world
attracted the boy's admiration, it was that gentleman's pious demeanour
and profound knowledge. But the exuberance of the lad's spirits when
away from his employer was in exact proportion to the moral pressure
brought to bear upon him while in that gentleman's presence. As an
illustration of this remark and proof of the twofold character of
Horatio, I will relate what I saw after the "Master" had determined that
the tail of the 9 was a very nice point, but that there was nothing in
it. They had all waited a long time at Judge's Chambers, and their
spirits were, no doubt, somewhat elated by at last getting the matter
disposed of.

Horatio heard Mr. Prigg say to Mr. Locust, "What a very nice point!" and
had heard Mr. Locust reply, "A very nice point, indeed!" And Mr. Gride,
the clerk, say, "What, a very nice point!" and somebody else's clerk say,
"What a very nice point!" And Horatio felt, as a humble member of the
profession, he must chime in with the rest of the firm. So, having said
to Locust's boy, "What a dam nice point!" he went back to his lonely den
in Bedford Row and then, as he termed it, "let himself out." He
accomplished this proceeding by first taking off his coat and throwing it
on to a chair; he next threw but his arms, with his fists firmly
clenched, as though he had hardly yet to its fullest extent realized the
"_niceness_" of the point which the Master had determined. The next step
which Horatio took was what is called "The double shuffle," which, I may
inform my readers, is the step usually practised by the gentleman who
imitates the sailor in the hornpipe on the stage. Being a slim and agile
youth, Horatio's performance was by no means contemptible, except that it
was no part of his professional duty to dance a Hornpipe. Then I saw
that this young gentleman in the exuberance of his youthful spirits
prepared for another exhibition of his talent. He cleared his throat,
once more threw out his arms, stamped his right foot loudly on the floor,
after the manner of the Ethiopian dancer with the long shoe, and then to
my astonishment poured forth the following words in a very agreeable,
and, as it seemed to me, melodious voice,--

"What a very nice point, said Prigg."

Then came what I suppose would be called a few bars of the hornpipe; then
he gave another line,--

"What a very nice point, said Gride."

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