"Surprised to see me, eh, Muzzy!" exclaimed Mr. Sheldrake, in an easy tone.
"You're welcome, sir, you're welcome," said Muzzy, his looks contradicting his words. "Anything wrong, sir?"
"No, old man, don't be alarmed; there's nothing wrong."
Mr. Sheldrake was smartly dressed, and presented quite a gay appearance in his cut-away velvet coat and his cane and fashionable hat, and with his moustaches carefully curled. He did not remove his hat, but looked round upon the room and its poor furnishings superciliously, with the air of a suzerain; and looked also at Muzzy with more than usual interest.
"Will you take a seat, sir?" asked Muzzy humbly, and with inward trepidation; for any occurrence out of the usual run of things filled him with fear.
Mr. Sheldrake seated himself by the table and took up the empty glass. "Been drinking, Muzzy?"
"No, sir, no," replied Muzzy, striving to look Mr. Sheldrake in the face as he told the untruth, but failing most signally. "I've given it up, sir, I've given it up."
Mr. Sheldrake smiled and nodded, as much as to say, "I know you are lying, but it's of no consequence;" and said aloud, with another disparaging look round the apartment, "Not a very handsome lodging, old man."
"As good as I can afford, sir," said Muzzy.
"You sly old dog," said Mr. Sheldrake merrily; "it's my opinion you have a pot of money put by somewhere."