office some half an hour after their usual
time, and in a very smiling state, as though their late plots and
designs had tranquillised their minds and shed a light upon their
toilsome way. In the present instance, they seemed particularly gay;
Miss Sally's aspect being of a most oily kind, and Mr Brass rubbing his
hands in an exceedingly jocose and light-hearted manner. 'Well, Mr
Richard,' said Brass. 'How are we this morning? Are we pretty fresh
and cheerful sir--eh, Mr Richard?'

'Pretty well, sir,' replied Dick.

'That's well,' said Brass. 'Ha ha! We should be as gay as larks, Mr
Richard--why not? It's a pleasant world we live in sir, a very
pleasant world. There are bad people in it, Mr Richard, but if there
were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers. Ha ha! Any
letters by the post this morning, Mr Richard?'

Mr Swiveller answered in the negative.

'Ha!' said Brass, 'no matter. If there's little business to-day,
there'll be more to-morrow. A contented spirit, Mr Richard, is the
sweetness of existence. Anybody been here, sir?'

'Only my friend'--replied Dick. 'May we ne'er want a--'

'Friend,' Brass chimed in quickly, 'or a bottle to give him.' Ha ha!
That's the way the song runs, isn't it? A very good song, Mr Richard,
very good. I like the sentiment of it. Ha ha! Your friend's the
young man from Witherden's office I think--yes--May we ne'er want a--
Nobody else at all, been, Mr Richard?'

'Only somebody to the lodger,' replied Mr Swiveller.

'Oh indeed!' cried Brass. 'Somebody to the lodger eh? Ha ha! May we
ne'er want a friend, or a-- Somebody to the lodger, eh, Mr Richard?'

'Yes,' said Dick, a little disconcerted by the excessive buoyancy of
spirits which his employer displayed. 'With him now.'

'With him now!' cried Brass; 'Ha ha! There let 'em be, merry and free,
toor rul rol le. Eh, Mr Richard? Ha ha!'

'Oh certainly,' replied Dick.

'And who,' said Brass, shuffling among his papers, 'who is the lodger's
visitor--not a lady visitor, I hope, eh, Mr Richard? The morals of the
Marks you know, sir--"when lovely women stoops to folly"--and all
that--eh, Mr Richard?'

'Another young man, who belongs to Witherden's too, or half belongs
there,' returned Richard. 'Kit, they call him.'

'Kit, eh!' said Brass. 'Strange name--name of a dancing-master's
fiddle, eh, Mr Richard? Ha ha! Kit's there, is he? Oh!'

Dick looked at Miss Sally, wondering that she didn't c