my buck. Immolating herself upon the shrine of Cheggs--'

'Poison Cheggs, cut Cheggs's ears off,' rejoined Quilp. 'I won't hear
of Cheggs. Her name is Swiveller or nothing. I'll drink her health
again, and her father's, and her mother's; and to all her sisters and
brothers--the glorious family of the Wackleses--all the Wackleses in
one glass--down with it to the dregs!'

'Well,' said Richard Swiveller, stopping short in the act of raising
the glass to his lips and looking at the dwarf in a species of stupor
as he flourished his arms and legs about: 'you're a jolly fellow, but
of all the jolly fellows I ever saw or heard of, you have the queerest
and most extraordinary way with you, upon my life you have.'

This candid declaration tended rather to increase than restrain Mr
Quilp's eccentricities, and Richard Swiveller, astonished to see him in
such a roystering vein, and drinking not a little himself, for
company--began imperceptibly to become more companionable and
confiding, so that, being judiciously led on by Mr Quilp, he grew at
last very confiding indeed. Having once got him into this mood, and
knowing now the key-note to strike whenever he was at a loss, Daniel
Quilp's task was comparatively an easy one, and he was soon in
possession of the whole details of the scheme contrived between the
easy Dick and his more designing friend.

'Stop!' said Quilp. 'That's the thing, that's the thing. It can be
brought about, it shall be brought about. There's my hand upon it; I
am your friend from this minute.'

'What! do you think there's still a chance?' inquired Dick, in surprise
at this encouragement.

'A chance!' echoed the dwarf, 'a certainty! Sophy Wackles may become a
Cheggs or anything else she likes, but not a Swiveller. Oh you lucky
dog! He's richer than any Jew alive; you're a made man. I see in you
now nothing but Nelly's husband, rolling in gold and silver. I'll help
you. It shall be done. Mind my words, it shall be done.'

'But how?' said Dick.

'There's plenty of time,' rejoined the dwarf, 'and it shall be done.
We'll sit down and talk it over again all the way through. Fill your
glass while I'm gone. I shall be back directly--directly.' With these
hasty words, Daniel Quilp withdrew into a dismantled skittle-ground
behind the public-house, and, throwing himself upon the ground actually
screamed and rolled about in uncontrollable delight.

'Here's sport!' he cried, 'sport ready to my h