the bell. "Ask Mr.
Trigger to sit down in the other room for two minutes, Stemm," said
Sir Thomas. And so Mr. Neefit had carried his point. "And now, sir,"
said Sir Thomas, "as I am particularly engaged, I will ask you to be
as quick as possible."

"My name is Neefit," began the breeches-maker,--and then paused.
Sir Thomas, who had heard the name from Ralph, but had forgotten
it altogether, merely bowed his head. "I am the breeches-maker of
Conduit Street," continued Mr. Neefit, with a proud conviction that
he too had ascended so high in his calling as to be justified in
presuming that he was known to mankind. Sir Thomas again bowed.
Neefit went on with his story. "Mr. Newton is a-going to behave to me
very bad."

"If he owes you money, he can pay you now," said Sir Thomas.

"He do owe me money;--a thousand pound he owe me."

"A thousand pounds for breeches!"

"No, Sir Thomas. It's most for money lent; but it's not along of that
as I'd trouble you. I know how to get my money, or to put up with the
loss if I don't. A thousand pound ain't here nor there,--not in what
I've got to say. I wouldn't demean myself to ring at your bell, Sir
Thomas;--not in the way of looking for a thousand pounds."

"In God's name, then, what is it? Pray be quick."

"He's going back from his word as he's promised to my daughter.
That's what it is." As Neefit paused again, Sir Thomas remembered
Ralph's proposition, made in his difficulties, as to marrying a
tradesman's daughter for money, and at once fell to the conclusion
that Mr. and Miss Neefit had been ill-used. "Sir Thomas," continued
the breeches-maker, "I've been as good as a father to him. I gave him
money when nobody else wouldn't."

"Do you mean that he has had money from you?"

"Yes; in course he has; ever so much. I paid for him a lot of money
to 'Orsball, where he 'unts. Money! I should think so. Didn't I pay
Moggs for him, the bootmaker? The very money as is rattling in his
pocket now is my money."

"And he engaged himself to your daughter?"

"He engaged hisself to me to marry her. He won't say no otherwise
himself. And he asked her twice. Why, Sir Thomas, he was all on the
square about it till the old gentleman broke his neck. He hadn't
nowhere else to go to for a shilling. But now the estate's come in
like, he's for behaving dishonourable. He don't know me yet; that's
what he don't. But I'll make him know me, Sir Thomas."

Then the door was opened, and Stemm's hea