From what I perceived of the character of Horatio, I should say that he was a scoffer. He was a mild, good-tempered, well-behaved boy enough, but ridiculed many proceedings which he ought to have reverenced. He was a great favourite with Mr. Prigg, because, if anything in the world attracted the boy’s admiration, it was
that gentleman’s pious demeanour and profound knowledge. But the exuberance of the lad’s spirits when away from his employer was in exact proportion to the moral pressure brought to bear upon him while in that gentleman’s presence. As an illustration of this remark and proof of the twofold character of Horatio, I will relate what I saw after the “Master” had determined that the tail of the 9 was a very nice point, but that there was nothing in it. They had all waited a long time at Judge’s Chambers, and their spirits were, no doubt, somewhat elated by at last getting the matter disposed of.
Horatio heard Mr. Prigg say to Mr. Locust, “What a very nice point!” and had heard Mr. Locust reply, “A very nice point, indeed!” And Mr. Gride, the clerk, say, “What, a very nice point!” and somebody else’s clerk say, “What a very nice point!” And Horatio felt, as a humble member of the profession, he must chime in with the rest of the firm. So, having said to Locust’s boy, “What a dam nice point!” he went back to his lonely den in Bedford Row and then, as he termed it, “let himself out.” He accomplished this proceeding by first taking off his coat and throwing it on to a chair; he next threw but his arms, with his fists firmly clenched, as though he had hardly yet to its fullest extent realized the “niceness” of the point which the Master had determined. The next step which Horatio took was what is called “The double shuffle,” which, I may inform my readers, is the step usually practised by the gentleman who imitates the sailor in the hornpipe on the stage. Being a slim and agile youth, Horatio’s performance was by no means contemptible, except that it was no part of his professional duty to dance a Hornpipe.
Then I saw that this young gentleman in the exuberance of his youthful spirits prepared for another exhibition of his talent. He cleared his throat, once more threw out his arms, stamped his right foot loudly on the floor, after the manner of the Ethiopian dancer with the long shoe, and then to my astonishment poured forth the following words in a very agreeable, and, as it seemed to me, melodious voice,—
“What a very nice point, said Prigg.”
Then came what I suppose would be called a few bars of the hornpipe; then he gave another line,—
“What a very nice point, said Gride.”
(Another part of the hornpipe.) Then he sang the third and fourth lines, dancing vigorously the while:
“It will take a dozen lawyers with their everlasting jaw:
It will take a dozen judges with their ever changing law”—
(Vigorous dancing for some moments), and then a pause, during which Horatio, slightly stooping, placed two fingers of his left hand to the side of his nose, and turning his eyes to the right, sang—