| 466 | 467 | 468 | 469 | 470 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
|
the whole time of the invalid's breakfast, and the invalid himself, pale
and emaciated, performing no small part in the same, it may be fairly
questioned whether at any meal, where no word, good or bad, was
spoken from beginning to end, so much was expressed by gestures in
themselves so slight and unimportant.
At length - and to say the truth before very long - Mr Swiveller had
despatched as much toast and tea as in that stage of his recovery it
was discreet to let him have. But the cares of the Marchioness did not
stop here; for, disappearing for an instant and presently returning
with a basin of fair water, she laved his face and hands, brushed his
hair, and in short made him as spruce and smart as anybody under
such circumstances could be made; and all this, in as brisk and
business-like a manner, as if he were a very little boy, and she his
grown-up nurse. To these various attentions, Mr Swiveller submitted
in a kind of grateful astonishment beyond the reach of language.
When they were at last brought to an end, and the Marchioness had
withdrawn into a distant corner to take her own poor breakfast (cold
enough by that time), he turned his face away for some few moments,
and shook hands heartily with the air.
'
Gentlemen,' said Dick, rousing himself from this pause, and turning
round again, 'you'll excuse me. Men who have been brought so low as
I have been, are easily fatigued. I am fresh again now, and fit for
talking. We're short of chairs here, among other trifles, but if you'll do
me the favour to sit upon the bed - '
'What can we do for you?' said Mr Garland, kindly.
'if you could make the Marchioness yonder, a Marchioness, in real,
sober earnest,' returned Dick, 'I'd thank you to get it done off-hand.
But as you can't, and as the question is not what you will do for me,
but what you will do for somebody else who has a better claim upon
you, pray sir let me know what you intend doing.'
'
It's chiefly on that account that we have come just now,' said the
single gentleman, 'for you will have another visitor presently. We
feared you would be anxious unless you knew from ourselves what
steps we intended to take, and therefore came to you before we stirred
in the matter.'
'Gentlemen,' returned Dick, 'I thank you. Anybody in the helpless
state that you see me in, is naturally anxious. Don't let me interrupt
you, sir.'
'
Then, you see, my good fellow,' said the single gentleman, 'that while
we have no doubt whatever of the truth of this disclosure, which has
so providentially come to light - '
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