ncountered the dwarf in a bye street at a very little
distance from the house, Mr Brass dismounted; and opening the coach
door with a melancholy visage, requested his sister to accompany him
into the office, with the view of preparing the good people within, for
the mournful intelligence that awaited them. Miss Sally complying, he
desired Mr Swiveller to accompany them. So, into the office they went;
Mr Sampson and his sister arm-in-arm; and Mr Swiveller following, alone.

The notary was standing before the fire in the outer office, talking to
Mr Abel and the elder Mr Garland, while Mr Chuckster sat writing at the
desk, picking up such crumbs of their conversation as happened to fall
in his way. This posture of affairs Mr Brass observed through the
glass-door as he was turning the handle, and seeing that the notary
recognised him, he began to shake his head and sigh deeply while that
partition yet divided them.

'Sir,' said Sampson, taking off his hat, and kissing the two
fore-fingers of his right hand beaver glove, 'my name is Brass--Brass
of Bevis Marks, Sir. I have had the honour and pleasure, Sir, of being
concerned against you in some little testamentary matters. How do you
do, sir?'

'My clerk will attend to any business you may have come upon, Mr
Brass,' said the notary, turning away.

'Thank you Sir,' said Brass, 'thank you, I am sure. Allow me, Sir, to
introduce my sister--quite one of us Sir, although of the weaker
sex--of great use in my business Sir, I assure you. Mr Richard, sir,
have the goodness to come foward if you please--No really,' said Brass,
stepping between the notary and his private office (towards which he
had begun to retreat), and speaking in the tone of an injured man,
'really Sir, I must, under favour, request a word or two with you,
indeed.'

'Mr Brass,' said the other, in a decided tone, 'I am engaged. You see
that I am occupied with these gentlemen. If you will communicate your
business to Mr Chuckster yonder, you will receive every attention.'

'Gentlemen,' said Brass, laying his right hand on his waistcoat, and
looking towards the father and son with a smooth smile--'Gentlemen, I
appeal to you--really, gentlemen--consider, I beg of you. I am of the
law. I am styled "gentleman" by Act of Parliament. I maintain the
title by the annual payment of twelve pound sterling for a certificate.
I am not one of your players of music, stage actors, writers of books,
or painters of