'What a funny fellow you are!' cried Quilp.

Go, Sir,' returned Dick, leaning against a post and waving his hand.

Go, deceiver, go, some day, Sir, p'r'aps you'll waken, from pleasure's

dream to know, the grief of orphans forsaken. Will you go, Sir?'

The dwarf taking no heed of this adjuration, Mr Swiveller advanced

with the view of inflicting upon him condign chastisement. But

forgetting his purpose or changing his mind before he came close to

him, he seized his hand and vowed eternal friendship, declaring with

an agreeable frankness that from that time forth they were brothers in

everything but personal appearance. Then he told his secret over

again, with the addition of being pathetic on the subject of Miss

Wackles, who, he gave Mr Quilp to understand, was the occasion of

any slight incoherency he might observe in his speech at that

moment, which was attributable solely to the strength of his affection

and not to rosy wine or other fermented liquor. And then they went on

arm-in-arm, very lovingly together.

I'm as sharp,' said Quilp to him, at parting, 'as sharp as a ferret, and

as cunning as a weazel. You bring Trent to me; assure him that I'm

his friend though i fear he a little distrusts me (I don't know why, I

have not deserved it); and you've both of you made your fortunes - in

perspective.'

That's the worst of it,' returned Dick. 'These fortunes in perspective

look such a long way off.'

'But they look smaller than they really are, on that account,' said

Quilp, pressing his arm. 'You'll have no conception of the value of your

prize until you draw close to it. Mark that.'

D'ye think not?' said Dick.

Aye, I do; and I am certain of what I say, that's better,' returned the

dwarf. 'You bring Trent to me. Tell him I am his friend and yours -

why shouldn't I be?'

There's no reason why you shouldn't, certainly,' replied Dick, 'and

perhaps there are a great many why you should - at least there would

be nothing strange in your wanting to be my friend, if you were a

choice spirit, but then you know you're not a choice spirit.'

I not a choice spirit?' cried Quilp.

Devil a bit,sir,' returned Dick. 'A man of your appearance couldn't be.

If you're any spirit at all,sir, you're an evil spirit. Choice spirits,' added

The Old Curiosity Shop