'Now, sir,' said the little man, as he carefully closed the door, 'is there

no way of accommodating this matter - step this way, sir, for a

moment - into this window, Sir, where we can be alone - there, sir,

there, pray sit down, sir. Now, my dear Sir, between you and I, we

know very well, my dear Sir, that you have run off with this lady for

the sake of her money. Don't frown, Sir, don't frown; I say, between

you and I, WE know it. We are both men of the world, and WE know

very well that our friends here, are not - eh?'

Mr Jingle's face gradually relaxed; and something distantly resembling

a wink quivered for an instant in his left eye.

'Very good, very good,' said the little man, observing the impression he

had made. 'Now, the fact is, that beyond a few hundreds, the lady has

little or nothing till the death of her mother - fine old lady, my dear

Sir.'

'OLD,' said Mr Jingle briefly but emphatically.

Why, yes,' said the attorney, with a slight cough. 'You are right, my

dear Sir, she is rather old. She comes of an old family though, my

dear Sir; old in every sense of the word. The founder of that family

came into Kent when Julius Caesar invaded Britain; - only one

member of it, since, who hasn't lived to eighty-five, and he was

beheaded by one of the Henrys. The old lady is not seventy-three now,

my dear Sir.' The little man paused, and took a pinch of snuff.

Well,' cried Mr Jingle.

Well, my dear sir - you don't take snuff! - ah! so much the better -

expensive habit - well, my dear Sir, you're a fine young man, man of

the world - able to push your fortune, if you had capital, eh?'

Well,' said Mr Jingle again.

Do you comprehend me?'

Not quite.'

Don't you think - now, my dear Sir, I put it to you don't you think -

that fifty pounds and liberty would be better than Miss Wardle and

expectation?'

'Won't do - not half enough!' said Mr Jingle, rising.

Nay, nay, my dear Sir,' remonstrated the little attorney, seizing him

by the button. 'Good round sum - a man like you could treble it in no

time - great deal to be done with fifty pounds, my dear Sir.'

The Pickwick Papers