promotion of the nuisance, but they will be good enough to remember,

that as Doctors seldom take their own prescriptions, and Divines do

not always practise what they preach, so lawyers are shy of meddling

with the Law on their own account: knowing it to be an edged tool of

uncertain application, very expensive in the working, and rather

remarkable for its properties of close shaving, than for its always

shaving the right person.

Come,' said Mr Brass one afternoon, 'this is two days without a

Punch. I'm in hopes he has run through 'em all, at last.'

Why are you in hopes?' returned Miss Sally. 'What harm do they do?'

Here's a pretty sort of a fellow!' cried Brass, laying down his pen in

despair. 'Now here's an aggravating animal!'

'Well, what harm do they do?' retorted Sally.

'What harm!' cried Brass. 'Is it no harm to have a constant hallooing

and hooting under one's very nose, distracting one from business, and

making one grind one's teeth with vexation? Is it no harm to be

blinded and choked up, and have the king's highway stopped with a

set of screamers and roarers whose throats must be made of - of - '

'Brass,' suggested Mr Swiveller.

'Ah! of brass,' said the lawyer, glancing at his clerk, to assure himself

that he had suggested the word in good faith and without any sinister

intention. 'Is that no harm?'

The lawyer stopped short in his invective, and listening for a moment,

and recognising the well-known voice, rested his head upon his hand,

raised his eyes to the ceiling, and muttered faintly,

There's another!'

Up went the single gentleman's window directly.

There's another,' repeated Brass; 'and if I could get a break and four

blood horses to cut into the Marks when the crowd is at its thickest,

I'd give eighteen-pence and never grudge it!'

The distant squeak was heard again. The single gentleman's door

burst open. He ran violently down the stairs, out into the street, and

so past the window, without any hat, towards the quarter whence the

sound proceeded - bent, no doubt, upon securing the strangers'

services directly.

The Old Curiosity Shop