[ "Mr. Nathan Smith." ] [ "It Was Not Until he Had Consumed a Pint Or Two of The Strongest Brew That he Began to Regain Some of his Old Self-esteem." ] [ "The Man on the Other Side Fell On All Fours Into The Room." ] [ "He Pushed Open the Small Lattice Window and Peered Out Into the Alley." ] [ "Tapping the Steward on The Chest With a Confidential Finger, he Backed Him Into a Corner." ] [ "He Finished up the Evening at The Chequers." ] [ "The Meagre Figure of Mrs. Silk." ] [ "In Search of Mr. Smith." ] [ "I 'ave Heard of 'em Exploding." ] [ "He Stepped to the Side and Looked Over." ] [ "You Keep On, Nugent, Don't You Mind 'im." ] [ "Hadn't You Better See About Making Yourself Presentable, Hardy?" ] [ "It Was Not Without a Certain Amount of Satisfaction That He Regarded Her Discomfiture." ] [ "Mr. Hardy Resigned Himself to his Fate." ] [ "The Carefully Groomed and Fastidious Murchison." ]

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CHAPTER XI

Jack Nugent's first idea on seeing a letter from his father asking him to meet him at Samson Wilks's was to send as impolite a refusal as a strong sense of undutifulness and a not inapt pen could arrange, but the united remonstrances of the Kybird family made him waver.

"You go," said Mr. Kybird, solemnly; "take the advice of a man wot's seen life, and go. Who knows but wot he's a thinking of doing something for you?"

"Startin' of you in business or somethin'," said Mrs. Kybird. "But if 'e tries to break it off between you and 'Melia I hope you know what to say."

"He won't do that," said her husband.

"If he wants to see me," said Mr. Nugent, "let him come here."

"I wouldn't 'ave 'im in my house," retorted Mr. Kybird, quickly. "An Englishman's 'ouse is his castle, and I won't 'ave him in mine."