Mr. Bumpkin twitched as if he had touched with ice a nerve of his hollow tooth.
“If I had the money that case’ll cost I wouldn’t do any more work,” said the youth.
“What would’st thee be then?”
“Well, I should try and get an Associate’s place in one of the Courts.”
“Hem! but this ere Snooks ull have to pay, won’t he?”
“Ah!” said Horatio, breathing deeply and indignantly, “I hope so; he’s a mean cuss—what d’ye think? never give Locust’s boy so much as a half-sovereign! Now don’t such a feller deserve to lose? And do you think Locust’s boy will interest himself in his behalf?”
Bumpkin looked slily out of the corners of his eyes at the young man, but the young man was impassive as stone, and pale as if made of the best Carrara marble.
“But tell I, sir—for here we be at the plaace of Mr. Commissioner to take oaths—what need be there o’ this ere thing I be gwine to swear, for I’ll be danged if I understand a word of un, so I tell ee.”
“Costs, my dear sir, costs!”
* * * * *