an
examination,' he demonstrated what kind of examination he meant by
turning back the cuffs of his coat, 'it will be a comfortable and
pleasant thing for all parties.'

'Search me,' said Kit, proudly holding up his arms. 'But mind, sir--I
know you'll be sorry for this, to the last day of your life.'

'It is certainly a very painful occurrence,' said Brass with a sigh, as
he dived into one of Kit's pockets, and fished up a miscellaneous
collection of small articles; 'very painful. Nothing here, Mr Richard,
Sir, all perfectly satisfactory. Nor here, sir. Nor in the waistcoat,
Mr Richard, nor in the coat tails. So far, I am rejoiced, I am sure.'

Richard Swiveller, holding Kit's hat in his hand, was watching the
proceedings with great interest, and bore upon his face the slightest
possible indication of a smile, as Brass, shutting one of his eyes,
looked with the other up the inside of one of the poor fellow's sleeves
as if it were a telescope--when Sampson turning hastily to him, bade
him search the hat.

'Here's a handkerchief,' said Dick.

'No harm in that sir,' rejoined Brass, applying his eye to the other
sleeve, and speaking in the voice of one who was contemplating an
immense extent of prospect. 'No harm in a handkerchief Sir, whatever.
The faculty don't consider it a healthy custom, I believe, Mr Richard,
to carry one's handkerchief in one's hat--I have heard that it keeps
the head too warm--but in every other point of view, its being there,
is extremely satisfactory--extremely so.'

An exclamation, at once from Richard Swiveller, Miss Sally, and Kit
himself, cut the lawyer short. He turned his head, and saw Dick
standing with the bank-note in his hand.

'In the hat?' cried Brass in a sort of shriek.

'Under the handkerchief, and tucked beneath the lining,' said Dick,
aghast at the discovery.

Mr Brass looked at him, at his sister, at the walls, at the ceiling, at
the floor--everywhere but at Kit, who stood quite stupefied and
motionless.

'And this,' cried Sampson, clasping his hands, 'is the world that turns
upon its own axis, and has Lunar influences, and revolutions round
Heavenly Bodies, and various games of that sort! This is human natur,
is it! Oh natur, natur! This is the miscreant that I was going to
benefit with all my little arts, and that, even now, I feel so much
for, as to wish to let him go! But,' added Mr Brass with greater
fortitude, 'I am myself a lawyer, and bound to set