‘Lock, sir? Yes, sir.’
‘Much to do, John?’
‘Yes, sir; we’re pretty heavy at present. I don’t know how it is, but we generally are pretty heavy.’
‘At this time of the year, Young John?’
‘Mostly at all times of the year, sir. I don’t know the time that makes much difference to us. I wish you good night, sir.’
‘Stay a moment, John—ha—stay a moment. Hum. Leave me the cigars, John, I—ha—beg.’
‘Certainly, sir.’ John put them, with a trembling hand, on the table.
‘Stay a moment, Young John; stay another moment. It would be a—ha—a gratification to me to send a little—hum—Testimonial, by such a trusty messenger, to be divided among—ha hum—them—them—according to their wants. Would you object to take it, John?’
‘Not in any ways, sir. There’s many of them, I’m sure, that would be the better for it.’
‘Thank you, John. I—ha—I’ll write it, John.’