ake your word for ten thousand pounds." The other, with great joy,
protested, that he was right in his conjecture, and returned the
compliment a thousand-fold; by which means, the expectation of both was
wound up to a very interesting pitch; and both, at the same instant,
began to produce their papers, in the untying of which their hands shook
with transports of eagerness and impatience; while their eyes were so
intent upon their work, that they did not perceive the occupation of
each other.

At length, one of them, having got the start of the other, and unrolled
several skins of musty parchment, directed his view to the employment of
his friend; and, seeing him fumbling at his bundle, asked if that was
a blank bond and conveyance which he had brought along with him. The
other, without lifting up his eyes, or desisting from his endeavours to
loose the knot, which by this time he had applied to his teeth, answered
this question in the negative, observing that the papers in his hand
were the security which he proposed to give for the money. This reply
converted the looks of the inquirer into a stare of infinite solidity,
accompanied with the word Anan! which he pronounced in a tone of fear
and astonishment. The other, alarmed at this note, cast his eyes towards
the supposed lender, and was in a moment infected by his aspect. All
the exultation of hope that sparkled in their eyes was now succeeded by
disappointment and dismay; and while they gazed ruefully at each other,
their features were gradually elongated, like the transient curls of a
Middle-row periwig.

This emphatic silence was, however, broken by the last-comer, who, in
a faltering accent, desired the other to recollect the contents of his
letter. "Of your letter!" cried the first, putting into his hand the
advertisement he had received from Pickle; which he had no sooner
perused, than he produced his own for the satisfaction of the other
party. So that another gloomy pause ensued, at the end of which, each
uttered a profound sigh, or rather groan, and, rising up, sneaked off
without further communication, he who seemed to be the most afflicted of
the two, taking his departure, with an exclamation of "Humbugged, egad!"

Such were the amusements of our hero, though they did not engross his
whole time, some part of which was dedicated to nocturnal riots and
revels, among a set of young noblemen, who had denounced war against
temperance, economy, and common sense,