t
'em; and all the men was made to be ordered about by him. This not being
aggravation enough, he says this morning to me, in his usual captivating
way, "We're going to-night, my man." "Are you, sir?" says I. "Perhaps
you'd like the bill got ready, sir?" "Oh no, my man," he says; "you
needn't mind that. I'll give Pecksniff orders to see to that." In reply
to which, the Dragon makes answer, "Thankee, sir, you're very kind to
honour us so far, but as we don't know any particular good of you, and
you don't travel with luggage, and Mr Pecksniff an't at home (which
perhaps you mayn't happen to be aware of, sir), we should prefer
something more satisfactory;" and that's where the matter stands. And I
ask,' said Mr Tapley, pointing, in conclusion, to Mr Tigg, with his hat,
'any lady or gentleman, possessing ordinary strength of mind, to say
whether he's a disagreeable-looking chap or not!'

'Let me inquire,' said Martin, interposing between this candid speech
and the delivery of some blighting anathema by Mr Tigg, 'what the amount
of this debt may be?'

'In point of money, sir, very little,' answered Mark. 'Only just turned
of three pounds. But it an't that; it's the--'

'Yes, yes, you told us so before,' said Martin. 'Pinch, a word with
you.'

'What is it?' asked Tom, retiring with him to a corner of the room.

'Why, simply--I am ashamed to say--that this Mr Slyme is a relation of
mine, of whom I never heard anything pleasant; and that I don't want him
here just now, and think he would be cheaply got rid of, perhaps, for
three or four pounds. You haven't enough money to pay this bill, I
suppose?'

Tom shook his head to an extent that left no doubt of his entire
sincerity.

'That's unfortunate, for I am poor too; and in case you had had it, I'd
have borrowed it of you. But if we told this landlady we would see her
paid, I suppose that would answer the same purpose?'

'Oh dear, yes!' said Tom. 'She knows me, bless you!'

'Then let us go down at once and tell her so; for the sooner we are rid
of their company the better. As you have conducted the conversation with
this gentleman hitherto, perhaps you'll tell him what we purpose doing;
will you?'

Mr Pinch, complying, at once imparted the intelligence to Mr Tigg, who
shook him warmly by the hand in return, assuring him that his faith in
anything and everything was again restored. It was not so much, he said,
for the temporary relief of this assistance that he prized