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The notary was standing before the fire in the outer office, talking to
Mr Abel and the elder Mr Garland, while Mr Chuckster sat writing at
the desk, picking up such crumbs of their conversation as happened
to fall in his way. This posture of affairs Mr Brass observed through
the glass-door as he was turning the handle, and seeing that the
notary recognised him, he began to shake his head and sigh deeply
while that partition yet divided them.
'Sir,' said Sampson, taking off his hat, and kissing the two fore-
fingers of his right hand beaver glove, 'my name is Brass - Brass of
Bevis Marks, Sir. I have had the honour and pleasure, Sir, of being
concerned against you in some little testamentary matters. How do
you do, sir?'
'My clerk will attend to any business you may have come upon, Mr
Brass,' said the notary, turning away.
'Thank you Sir,' said Brass, 'thank you, I am sure. Allow me, Sir, to
introduce my sister - quite one of us Sir, although of the weaker sex -
of great use in my business Sir, I assure you. Mr Richard, sir, have
the goodness to come foward if you please - No really,' said Brass,
stepping between the notary and his private office (towards which he
had begun to retreat), and speaking in the tone of an injured man,
'
really Sir, I must, under favour, request a word or two with you,
indeed.'
'Mr Brass,' said the other, in a decided tone, 'I am engaged. You see
that I am occupied with these gentlemen. If you will communicate
your business to Mr Chuckster yonder, you will receive every
attention.'
'Gentlemen,' said Brass, laying his right hand on his waistcoat, and
looking towards the father and son with a smooth smile - 'Gentlemen,
I appeal to you - really, gentlemen - consider, I beg of you. I am of the
law. I am styled ‘gentleman’ by Act of Parliament. I maintain the title
by the annual payment of twelve pound sterling for a certificate. I am
not one of your players of music, stage actors, writers of books, or
painters of pictures, who assume a station that the laws of their
country don't recognise. I am none of your strollers or vagabonds. If
any man brings his action against me, he must describe me as a
gentleman, or his action is null and void. I appeal to you - is this quite
respectful? Really gentlemen - '
'
Well, will you have the goodness to state your business then, Mr
Brass?' said the notary.
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