"Private business."
"Ho! ho! and her name?"
"Mary Anne. She's a housemaid, and I love her, oh, I love her, and her heart I would discover! Pish! pshaw! 'Hence, vain deluding joys.' Milton, my dear Doctor! his best poem. But really, I want to be serious."
"Be serious, by all means," said Japix, complacently; "business first, pleasure afterwards. Dine with me to-night!"
"No, I've got an engagement. Say seven to-morrow, and I accept."
"'When found make a note of,'" remarked the Doctor, and scribbled a few lines in his memoranda-book. "Eh! Author?"
"Dickens' Captain Cuttle."
"Very good—go up top."
"Are you going to be serious?" said Fanks, in despair.
"My dear Rixton, I am serious," replied Dr. Japix, composing his features; "proceed!"