Chapter XVII.
NUTTS, with his usual customers.
Slowgoe. (With newspaper.) So Parliament’s at it in earnest now.
Nutts. Yes; they’ve opened Solomon’s brass kettle at last.
Slowgoe. What do you mean by Solomon’s kettle?
Nutts. And did you never read the “’Rabian Nights,” where they fish up from the sea the brass kettle with Solomon’s seal upon it? A kettle thought to be crammed with wisdom, and when it was opened there came out of it clouds and clouds of smoke?
Mrs Nutts. La! Nutts, how can you go on in that heathen way about Parliament, after what you saw on Tuesday? I’m a sinful woman, Mr Slowgoe, if he didn’t keep me awake half the night talking of the Queen’s stomacher and crown of diamonds. He talked on ’em in such a way, I almost thought I saw ’em in the room.
Nutts. Well, there’d have been no want of the rushlight if you had.
Slowgoe. (Solemnly.) Why, you never mean to say, Mr Nutts, that you saw her Gracious Majesty on last Tuesday, with her crown upon her head, in the House of Lords?
Nutts. Saw all of it—heard all of it; but how I got into the House, why, that’s a secret that even my tombstone shall tell to nobody. Splendid sight! I can tell you. I haven’t got the light of the diamonds out of my eyes yet.