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d Titmouse. "Ah! Mr. Titmouse, you'll soon have wine enough to float a frigate--and indeed what not--with ten thousand a-year?" "And all the back-rents, you know--ha, ha!" "Yes--to be sure!--the back-rents! The sweetest estate that is to be found in all Yorkshire! Gracious, Mr. Titmouse!" continued Gammon, with an excited air--"What may you not do? Go where you like--do what you like--get into Parliament--marry some lovely woman of high rank!" "Lord, Mr. Gammon!--you a'n't dreaming? Nor I? But now, in course, _you_ must be paid handsome for your trouble!--Only say how much--Name your sum! What you please! You only get me all you've said--and I'll"---- "For my part, I wish to rely entirely on your mere word of honor. Between gentlemen, you know--my dear sir"---- "You only try me, sir." "But you see, Mr. Quirk's getting old, and naturally is anxious to provide for those whom he will leave behind him--and so Mr. Snap agreed with him--two to one against me, Mr. Titmouse--of course they carried the day--two to one." "Never mind that!--only say the figure, sir!" cried Titmouse, eagerly. "A single year's income, only--ten thousand pounds will hardly"---- "Ten thousand pounds! By jingo, but that _is_ a slice out of the cake! Oh, Lord!" quoth Titmouse, looking aghast. "A mere crumb, my dear sir!--a trifle! Why, _we_ are going to give _you_ that sum at least every year--and indeed it was suggested to our firm, that unless you gave us at least a sum of twenty-five thousand pounds--in fact, we were recommended to look out for some other heir." "Oh dear! oh Mr. Gammon," cried Titmouse, hastily--"it's not to be thought of, sir." "So I said; and as for throwing it up--to be sure we shall have ourselves to borrow large sums to carry on the war--and unless we have your bond for at least ten thousand pounds, we cannot raise a farthing." "Well--curse me, if you sha'n't do what you like!--Give me your hand, and do what you like, Mr. Gammon!" "Thank you, Mr. Titmouse! How I like a glass of wine with a friend in this quiet way!--you'll always find me rejoiced to show"---- "Your hand! By George--Didn't I take a liking to you from the first? But to speak my mind a bit--as for Mr. Quirk--excuse me--but he's a cur--cur--cur--mudg--mudg--mudg--eon--hem!" "Hope you've not been so imprudent, my dear Titmouse," threw in Mr. Gammon, rather anxiously, "as to borrow money--eh?" "Devil knows, and devil cares! No stam
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