"You really confer a great honour upon me."
"Then I may consider that you accept—"
"My dear sir, how can I sufficiently thank you for this kind interest which you take in my behalf?"
"Pray do not mention it, Mr. Greenwood."
"No, Mr. Sawder, I will not allude to it; since it is the more to be appreciated, inasmuch as I never had the pleasure of being known to you previous to this occasion."
"I am therefore to understand," said the whipper-in, who could not precisely fathom the new member through the depths of these ambiguous phrases, "that you will allow me the honour of introducing you—"
"The honour, my dear sir, would be with me," observed Mr. Greenwood, with a gracious bow.
"At what hour, then, will you be prepared—"
"My time shall henceforth always be devoted to the interests of my constituents."
"A very noble sentiment, my dear Mr. Greenwood," said the whipper-in. "Shall we then fix the ceremony for five o'clock?"