n still, hey?'

It should be observed that the gentleman had very white teeth, and that
when there was no excuse for laughing, he generally finished with the
same monosyllable, which he uttered so as to display them.

'He's in very good condition; there's nothing the matter with him,' said
the young man carelessly.

'Upon my soul I'm glad to hear it,' rejoined the other. 'Have you just
returned from Brussels?'

'We only reached town late last night,' said Lord Frederick. Sir
Mulberry turned away to speak to one of his own party, and feigned not
to hear.

'Now, upon my life,' said the friend, affecting to speak in a whisper,
'it's an uncommonly bold and game thing in Hawk to show himself so soon.
I say it advisedly; there's a vast deal of courage in it. You see he has
just rusticated long enough to excite curiosity, and not long enough for
men to have forgotten that deuced unpleasant--by-the-bye--you know the
rights of the affair, of course? Why did you never give those confounded
papers the lie? I seldom read the papers, but I looked in the papers for
that, and may I be--'

'Look in the papers,' interrupted Sir Mulberry, turning suddenly round,
'tomorrow--no, next day, will you?'

'Upon my life, my dear fellow, I seldom or never read the papers,' said
the other, shrugging his shoulders, 'but I will, at your recommendation.
What shall I look for?'

'Good day,' said Sir Mulberry, turning abruptly on his heel, and drawing
his pupil with him. Falling, again, into the loitering, careless pace at
which they had entered, they lounged out, arm in arm.

'I won't give him a case of murder to read,' muttered Sir Mulberry with
an oath; 'but it shall be something very near it if whipcord cuts and
bludgeons bruise.'

His companion said nothing, but there was something in his manner which
galled Sir Mulberry to add, with nearly as much ferocity as if his
friend had been Nicholas himself:

'I sent Jenkins to old Nickleby before eight o'clock this morning. He's
a staunch one; he was back with me before the messenger. I had it all
from him in the first five minutes. I know where this hound is to be met
with; time and place both. But there's no need to talk; tomorrow will
soon be here.'

'And wha-at's to be done tomorrow?' inquired Lord Frederick.

Sir Mulberry Hawk honoured him with an angry glance, but condescended
to return no verbal answer to this inquiry. Both walked sullenly on, as
though their thoughts were busily