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one in its expression - and return to the society of Mr Richard
Swiveller, who, during their absence, has been regaling himself with
various feats of pantomime, and is discovered at his desk, in a very
flushed and heated condition, violently scratching out nothing with
half a penknife.
Whenever Kit came alone, and without the chaise, it always happened
that Sampson Brass was reminded of some mission, calling Mr
Swiveller, if not to Peckham Rye again, at all events to some pretty
distant place from Which he could not be expected to return for two or
three hours, or in all probability a much longer period, as that
gentleman was not, to say the truth, renowned for using great
expedition on such occasions, but rather for protracting and spinning
out the time to the very utmost limit of possibility. Mr Swiveller out of
sight, Miss Sally immediately withdrew. Mr Brass would then set the
office-door wide open, hum his old tune with great gaiety of heart, and
smile seraphically as before. Kit coming down-stairs would be called
in; entertained with some moral and agreeable conversation; perhaps
entreated to mind the office for an instant while Mr Brass stepped
over the way; and afterwards presented with one or two half-crowns as
the case might be. This occurred so often, that Kit, nothing doubting
but that they came from the single gentleman who had already
rewarded his mother with great liberality, could not enough admire
his generosity; and bought so many cheap presents for her, and for
little Jacob, and for the baby, and for Barbara to boot, that one or
other of them was having some new trifle every day of their lives.
While these acts and deeds were in progress in and out of the office of
Sampson Brass, Richard Swiveller, being often left alone therein,
began to find the time hang heavy on his hands. For the better
preservation of his cheerfulness therefore, and to prevent his faculties
from rusting, he provided himself with a cribbage-board and pack of
cards, and accustomed himself to play at cribbage with a dummy, for
twenty, thirty, or sometimes even fifty thousand pounds aside, besides
many hazardous bets to a considerable amount.
As these games were very silently conducted, notwithstanding the
magnitude of the interests involved, Mr Swiveller began to think that
on those evenings when Mr and Miss Brass were out (and they often
went out now) he heard a kind of snorting or hard-breathing sound in
the direction of the door, which it occurred to him, after some
reflection, must proceed from the small servant, who always had a
cold from damp living. Looking intently that way one night, he plainly
distinguished an eye gleaming and glistening at the keyhole; and
having now no doubt that his suspicions were correct, he stole softly
to the door, and pounced upon her before she was aware of his
approach.
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