The attorney at length turned round and stared the boy full in the face, as if he had been some newly discovered specimen of zoology, gave a long whistle, thrust his inky finger first into one pocket and then into the other of his black cloth vest, and then gave another long whistle and completed his stare at the boy’s face.
“Ho, ha, hum! that bill, eh?” and the legal young gentleman extended the tips of his fingers towards the well worn bit of paper, and daintily opening it, looked at its contents.
“Hum! for capping and heel-tapping, six shillings—for foxing, ten and sixpence, and other sundries, eh! So your master wants me to settle this bill, eh?” repeated the man of briefs.
“Yes, sir. This is the nineteenth time I have come for it, and I intend to knock off at twenty and call it half a day.”
“You’re an impudent boy.”
“I’s always impudent to lawyers, coz I can’t help it—it’s catchin’.”
“Your eye-teeth are cut, I see!”
“That’s what boss sent me for, instead o’ the ’prentices as was gettin’ their teeth cut. I cut mine at nine months old, with a hand-saw. Boss says if you don’t pay that bill he’ll sue you.”
“Sue me? I’m a lawyer!”
“It’s no matter for that! Lawyer or no lawyer, boss declares he’ll do it—so fork over!”