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Chapter XXXVI
As the single gentleman after some weeks' occupation of his lodgings,
still declined to correspond, by word or gesture, either with Mr Brass
or his sister Sally, but invariably chose Richard Swiveller as his
channel of communication; and as he proved himself in all respects a
highly desirable inmate, paying for everything beforehand, giving very
little trouble, making no noise, and keeping early hours; Mr Richard
imperceptibly rose to an important position in the family, as one who
had influence over this mysterious lodger, and could negotiate with
him, for good or evil, when nobody else durst approach his person.
If the truth must be told, even Mr Swiveller's approaches to the single
gentleman were of a very distant kind, and met with small
encouragement; but, as he never returned from a monosyllabic
conference with the unknown, without quoting such expressions as
'
Swiveller, I know I can rely upon you,' - 'I have no hesitation in
saying, Swiveller, that I entertain a regard for you,' - 'Swiveller, you
are my friend, and will stand by me I am sure,' with many other short
speeches of the same familiar and confiding kind, purporting to have
been addressed by the single gentleman to himself, and to form the
staple of their ordinary discourse, neither Mr Brass nor Miss Sally for
a moment questioned the extent of his influence, but accorded to him
their fullest and most unqualified belief. But quite apart from, and
independent of, this source of popularity, Mr Swiveller had another,
which promised to be equally enduring, and to lighten his position
considerably.
He found favour in the eyes of Miss Sally Brass. Let not the light
scorners of female fascination erect their ears to listen to a new tale of
love which shall serve them for a jest; for Miss Brass, however
accurately formed to be beloved, was not of the loving kind. That
amiable virgin, having clung to the skirts of the Law from her earliest
youth; having sustained herself by their aid, as it were, in her first
running alone, and maintained a firm grasp upon them ever since;
had passed her life in a kind of legal childhood. She had been
remarkable, when a tender prattler for an uncommon talent in
counterfeiting the walk and manner of a bailiff: in which character she
had learned to tap her little playfellows on the shoulder, and to carry
them off to imaginary sponging-houses, with a correctness of imitation
which was the surprise and delight of all who witnessed her
performances, and which was only to be exceeded by her exquisite
manner of putting an execution into her doll's house, and taking an
exact inventory of the chairs and tables. These artless sports had
naturally soothed and cheered the decline of her widowed father: a
most exemplary gentleman (called 'old Foxey' by his friends from his
extreme sagacity,) who encouraged them to the utmost, and whose
chief regret, on finding that he drew near to Houndsditch churchyard,
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