Cradock Nowell, Vol. 2 (of 3)

ork which he bought. Not satisfied with this, he went to the Geological Museum, in Jermyn–street, and pored over the specimens, and laid in a stock of carbonic knowledge that would have astonished C

deem some trifling articles for the poor people of the court, and felt some good–will towards him for his kindness to the little customers. It increased

aid the pawnbroker?s assistant; "sorry to s

am going to pay a premium, and enter into a good position upon advantageous t

it coining tears, &c.; but you may take my word for it, there is a deal more roguery in

ny way committed to a partnership, neither am I to be at all dependent upon the

of Zakey Jupp; a shrewdish sort of fellow, though a deal too fond of fighting. He?ll be up to some of the coal tricks, I expect, he?s about in the yards so much;

aiden, at Nine Elms, yesterday morning, and may not be back for a month. He wanted me to go with him; but I did n

further; and, although Cradock was so communicative, as young men are apt to be, especia

t question put to Cradock; and he did not ask any ver

e got to the number indicated. And what a noble plate! So large, indeed, that it was absolutely necessary to have it in two parts. What refulgent brass! What fine engraving, especially on the lower part! You might call it chalco–illumination, chromography, chromometallurgy; I do not know any word half grand enough to describe it. And the legend itself so simple, how could they hav

ting at the door so long that it made him quite uneasy, lest Hearty Wibraham should have forgotten all about his little deposit. At last the smart girl opened the door, and a short young man, whose dress more than whispered that he was not given to compromise his ?sthetic views, came out with a bounce, and clapped

ck, and cried, "Hail, oh future partner!" Then he offered him a glass of "rare old Madeira;" and, producing a blank receipt form, exclaimed, "Whateve

trembled from head to foot, lest even now, at the last moment, he

an allow any man to say of him, sir, that he had departed from his word." His voice trembled slightly, and there w

r word. We understand each o

coal–merchant, without having seen so much as the colour of his money. Then Cradock pulled

declare that I have never yet done anything, even for the sake of the common courtesies of life, which has not been thoroughly genui

of many weeks, by the dexter wand of fortune, that he bought a quarter of an ounce of bird?s–eye with an infusion of "Latakia" (grown in the footpath fiel

as true that a big man-a mastiff of a man, they told her-had succeeded in abolishing it; now, seeing the blue curls quivering nicely, she jumped upon his lap; and, although she

els set together; but, the moment she takes one off, up

ous plate, and rang the bell thereover. It was answered by an office–boy, with a grin so intensely hu

a patronizing air, which a littl

ed Cradock; "I supp

der than ever; "the other three gents is waiting,

ess that boy, "I am not come here, young man,

w–bones. His Ro–oyal Highness will be here bumbye. 'Spect they?ll appoint you to receive him, 'cos you would look su

ck; "and you shall have it too, my boy,

n the stage-"I have never been appreciated, and suppose I never shall. What?

emptation to sit down, even though one had rowing–trousers on. There were four tall desks of deal uncovered; each had four legs, and resemb

nown to Cradock; but the third, the very short one, who had taken a stool to stand upon, and was mending a pen most earnestly-him Crad

l, and a little run towards Cradock; "you see we are all ready,

mile; "I do not belong to the firm as yet, although I

ng; "indeed, I came up from Cambridge

esk; "if ye?ll hearken me, my time comes first. The agrahment was signed for Candl

e, Dooblin, wi?out having it down all black and white? By the same token, it?s meself as is foremost. Christmas is the time, me boys; and th

kes will be here presently, and then we can settle precedence. I see the

d the little Cambridge man, "but I was never he

redeecament," cried the ta

as their senior, "but the gintleman has the advantage o' me.

pushed his head in at the door, and shouted, "Hi! there, young coal–merchants, don?t yer sell too much now! Telegram from the Exchange, gents; grimy is on the rise. But excoos

t bewilderment-"it appears to me that there is something wrong. Let us hope that it is a mistake only; at any

enter the firm for the sum of eighty guineas, a great deal too little, considering all the

am man; "why I was admeeted fo

outed the son of Dublin; "shure and I?ve made a cl

air, "was received for the trifling sum of t

s shake hands all round. We represent the four c

hey went through the ceremony. "By Jasers, but that infarnal old Jew wo

trange, and, as it seems, very roguish matter. I was told to act for our principal, during the absence of the sleeping partner; to keep yo

man, bowing; "only I hold the identical commission, ounce of practice a

ied the tall Dunelmian, "for the sole

d that manes to kape it. What time wur you

ky having been produced, he and Hearty Wibraham had kept it up until twelve o?clo

owe him, out of your money, gintlemen, say my name isn?t Manus O?Tool

found anywhere; and the only result of a strong demonst

ctable party, rent payable weakly, and weak is up this day

n Co

ondrously blank at this-"gelidus

antab, getting smaller, and with the sk

d the young north countryman, "would take up

and fight him," propos

hing at all to us, until twelve o?clock, and then he can send us about our business, and no more harm done. We were not parties to the original

l the rest; "whatever it

ee–fourths of the brass–plate. I have taken a

" exclaimed the other three; "but

y is the case. And I have a screw–driver in

, before twelve o?clock, for after

knife–handle, and the first flush of real British anger yet seen upon his countenance. What wonderf

is gone, and only the narrow bar left with the name of th

xford; let us at least die jolly. And I claim the privilege of standing oysters, because I have paid the highest premium, and am the most p

xpinse, London stout for the waker stomiks, and a drop

shells. Call four university men, by implication, unrespectable parties! We must have

ll university language, "and, if ye don?t, 'twill be a q

ce-a sharp rap–rap announced the postman, and Mr. O?Toole returned from the door with a large square letter, seale

ressed?" asked

tner of the firm of Wibraham, Fookes, and Co., Co

y the eightpence," c

o it?" answered Mr. O?Toole, angrily. An

o' the Wisp, off the

ot–water bottles for the comfort of his household–brigade, principally female, and to erect extensive gas–cooking premises, where hot crocodile may alway

remonious departure. By an extraordinary coincidence, Mr. Fookes has also been summoned peremptorily to Constantinople

e strictest punctuality in meeting payments, are the very soul of business, and that an ounce of practice is worth a pound of precept. But I have the purest confidence in you. I need not appeal to the honou

ntleman will be entitled to his own deal desk, upon discharge of the bill, which he will find made out

ush our united interests, for I trust you to the last farthing. I hope to find yo

emen, ever your af

Wibraham

y to enter an order, the office–boy will

ed the little Cantab, with the

ite!" cried the repr

ed all their noses together. Then he summoned the landlord, and pelted him out of the room and up the stairs with oyster–shells, the books, and the whisky–bottle, and two pewter–pots af

rasped him on the other side. So they lifted him off the ground, and bore him even into Hyde Park, and there they le