, and began
stamping capital F's all over his legs.

'The fact is,' said Mr Fips, 'that my friend is not, at this present
moment, in town.'

Tom's countenance fell; for he thought this equivalent to telling him
that his appearance did not answer; and that Fips must look out for
somebody else.

'When do you think he will be in town, sir?' he asked.

'I can't say; it's impossible to tell. I really have no idea. But,' said
Fips, taking off a very deep impression of the wafer-stamp upon the calf
of his left leg, and looking steadily at Tom, 'I don't know that it's a
matter of much consequence.'

Poor Tom inclined his head deferentially, but appeared to doubt that.

'I say,' repeated Mr Fips, 'that I don't know it's a matter of much
consequence. The business lies entirely between yourself and me, Mr
Pinch. With reference to your duties, I can set you going; and with
reference to your salary, I can pay it. Weekly,' said Mr Fips, putting
down the wafer-stamp, and looking at John Westlock and Tom Pinch by
turns, 'weekly; in this office; at any time between the hours of four
and five o'clock in the afternoon.' As Mr Fips said this, he made up his
face as if he were going to whistle. But he didn't.

'You are very good,' said Tom, whose countenance was now suffused with
pleasure; 'and nothing can be more satisfactory or straightforward. My
attendance will be required--'

'From half-past nine to four o'clock or so, I should say,' interrupted
Mr Fips. 'About that.'

'I did not mean the hours of attendance,' retorted Tom, 'which are light
and easy, I am sure; but the place.'

'Oh, the place! The place is in the Temple.'

Tom was delighted.

'Perhaps,' said Mr Fips, 'you would like to see the place?'

'Oh, dear!' cried Tom. 'I shall only be too glad to consider myself
engaged, if you will allow me; without any further reference to the
place.'

'You may consider yourself engaged, by all means,' said Mr Fips; 'you
couldn't meet me at the Temple Gate in Fleet Street, in an hour from
this time, I suppose, could you?'

Certainly Tom could.

'Good,' said Mr Fips, rising. 'Then I will show you the place; and you
can begin your attendance to-morrow morning. In an hour, therefore, I
shall see you. You too, Mr Westlock? Very good. Take care how you go.
It's rather dark.'

With this remark, which seemed superfluous, he shut them out upon
the staircase, and they groped their way into the street again. The
interview had don