n to manage any of them as far as my
experience goes," said Mr Scruby.

"Of course it do; and there ain't one in London knows so much about
it as you do, Mr Scruby. I will say that for you. But the long and
the short of it is this;--business is business, and money is money."

"Money is money, certainly," said Mr Scruby. "There's no doubt in the
world about that, Grimes;--and a deal of it you had out of the last
election."

"No, I hadn't; begging your pardon, Mr Scruby, for making so free.
What I had to my own cheek wasn't nothing to speak of. I wasn't paid
for my time; that's what I wasn't. You look how a publican's business
gets cut up at them elections;--and then the state of the house
afterwards! What would the governor say to me if I was to put down
painting inside and out in my little bill?"

"It doesn't seem to make much difference how you put it down," said
Vavasor. "The total is what I look at."

"Just so, Mr Vavasor; just so. The total is what I looks at too. And
I has to look at it a deuced long time before I gets it. I ain't a
got it yet; have I, Mr Vavasor?"

"Well; if you ask me I should say you had," said George. "I know I
paid Mr Scruby three hundred pounds on your account."

"And I got every shilling of it, Mr Vavasor. I'm not a going to deny
the money, Mr Vavasor. You'll never find me doing that. I'm as round
as your hat, and as square as your elbow,--I am. Mr Scruby knows me;
don't you, Mr Scruby?"

"Perhaps I know you too well, Grimes."

"No you don't, Mr Scruby; not a bit too well. Nor I don't know you
too well, either. I respect you, Mr Scruby, because you're a man as
understands your business. But as I was saying, what's three hundred
pounds when a man's bill is three hundred and ninety-two thirteen and
fourpence?"

"I thought that was all settled, Mr Scruby," said Vavasor.

"Why you see, Mr Vavasor, it's very hard to settle these things. If
you ask me whether Mr Grimes here can sue you for the balance, I tell
you very plainly that he can't. We were a little short of money when
we came to a settlement, as is generally the case at such times, and
so we took Mr Grimes' receipt for three hundred pounds."

"Of course you did, Mr Scruby."

"Not on account, but in full of all demands."

"Now Mr Scruby!" and the publican as he made this appeal looked at
the attorney with an expression of countenance which was absolutely
eloquent. "Are you going to put me off with such an excuse as that?"