sfied
by his conveyancer of having found out a mare's nest.

"I think, by the way," said Mr. Gammon to Mr. Quirk, before they parted
on the previous evening, "it may be as well, all things considered, to
acknowledge the receipt of the fellow's note--eh?--_Can't_ do any harm,
you know, and civility costs nothing--hem!"

"The very thing I was thinking of," replied Quirk, as he always did, on
hearing any suggestion from Mr. Gammon. So by that night's post was
despatched (post-paid) the following note to Mr. Titmouse:--

"Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap have the pleasure of acknowledging
the receipt of Mr. Titmouse's polite letter of last night's date;
and earnestly beg that he will not distress himself about the
little incident that occurred at their office on Tuesday night, and
which they assure him they have quite forgotten. They made all
allowances, however their feelings suffered at the time. They beg
Mr. T. will give them credit for not losing sight of his interests,
to the best of their ability; obstructed as they are, however, by
numerous serious difficulties. If they should be hereafter
overcome, he may rest assured of their promptly communicating with
him; and till then they trust Mr. T. will not inconvenience himself
by calling on, or writing to them.

_Saffron Hill, 15th July 18--._

"P. S.--Messrs. Q. G. and S. regret to hear that any unpleasantness
has arisen (Gammon could hardly write for laughing) between Mr.
Titmouse and his friend Mr. Hicklebagle, who, they assure him,
manifested a very warm interest in behalf of Mr. T., and conducted
himself with the greatest propriety on the occasion of his calling
upon Messrs. Q. G. and S. They happened at that moment to be
engaged in matters of the highest importance; which will, they
trust, explain any appearance of abruptness they might have
exhibited towards that gentleman. Perhaps Mr. Titmouse will be so
obliging as to intimate as much to Mr. Hickerbag."

There was an obvious reason for this polite allusion to Huckaback.
Gammon thought it very possible that that gentleman might be in Mr.
Titmouse's confidence, and exercise a powerful influence over him
hereafter; and that influence Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap might find
it well worth their while to secure beforehand.

The moment that Titmouse, with breathless haste, had read over this
molli