"And asses bray, I think," said Tom, in despair. "Do you know where Mr.
Briggs is now?"
"And why the devil do you want to know?
For that's a verse, sir, although somewhat slow."
The two men laughed in spite of themselves.
"Better tell the fellow the plain truth," said Campbell to Thurnall.
"Come out with us, and I will tell you." And Campbell threw down the money, and led him off, after he had gulped down his own brandy, and half Tom's beside.
"What? leave the nepenthe untasted?"
They took him out, and he tucked his arms through theirs, and strutted down Drury Lane.
"The fact is, sir,—I speak to you, of course, in confidence, as one gentleman to another—"
Mr. Barker replied by a lofty and gracious bow.
"That his family are exceedingly distressed at his absence, and his wife, who, as you may know, is a lady of high family, dangerously ill; and he cannot be aware of the fact. This gentleman is the medical man of her family, and I—I am an intimate friend. We should esteem it therefore the very greatest service if you would give us any information which—"