human
I may be wrong, Gammon, commenced Mr. Quirk, in a low tone;
gpt
--(Oh dear, dear! Mr. Quirk! what a shocking untruth! and at your advanced period of life, too!)--
human
My dear Mr. Quirk, you have taken me, said his bland partner, apparently with great emotion,
gpt
You, Gammon, are in your prime--scarce even that--but I am growing old ----tears appeared to glisten in the old gentleman's eyes; Gammon, looking much moved, shook him cordially by the hand in silence, wondering what upon earth was coming next.
human
Yes;--old Caleb Quirk's day is drawing to a close--I feel it, Gammon, I feel it! But I shall leave behind me--a--a--child--an only daughter, Gammon; that gentleman gazed at the speaker with an expression of respectful sympathy;--
gpt
Dora: I don't think you can have known Dora so long, Gammon, without feeling a _leetle_ interest in her! Here Gammon's color mounted rapidly; and he looked with feelings of a novel description at his senior partner. Could it be possible that old Quirk wished to bring about a match between his daughter and Mr. Gammon? That gentleman's thoughts were for a moment confused. All he could do was to bow with an earnest--an anxious--a deprecating air; and Mr. Quirk, rather hastily, proceeded,--
human
--Gammon began to draw his breath hurriedly, and to look more and more apprehensively at his senior partner,--
gpt
Whew!
human
Ah, my dear sir, is that all? he exclaimed, and shook Mr. Quirk cordially by the hand,--
gpt
Have you really? Hang me if anything can escape your lynx's eyes!--Well! there _is_ no accounting for tastes, is there?--especially among the women? Poor Dora's quite lost her heart--quite--she has--so help me Heaven!
human
Well, my dear sir, and why this _surprise_? inquired Gammon, earnestly.
gpt
I consider Titmouse to be a very handsome young fellow; and that he is already rapidly acquiring very gentlemanly manners; and as to his _fortune_--really--when one thinks of the thing--it would be most desirable to bring it about! Indeed, the sooner his heart's fixed, and his word's pledged, the better--for you must of course be aware that there will be many schemers on the look-out to entrap his frank and inexperienced nature--look, for instance, at Tag-rag.
human
Eugh! exclaimed Mr. Quirk, with a sudden motion of sickening disgust--
gpt
Indeed, indeed, Mr. Quirk, I do; I quite agree with you! Upon my honor, I think it is a part of even _my_ duty towards our confiding and inexperienced client, if possible, to protect him against such infamous designs.
human
Right--right, Gammon; by Jove, you're quite right--I _quite_ agree with you!
gpt
You see, however, said Gammon,
human
Faugh! eugh! feugh! Nasty wretch! a little trollop! It makes one sick to hear of her! And, by the way, now we're on that subject, Gammon, what do we want of this wretch Tag-rag, now that Titmouse has actually got the property?
gpt
Want of him? Money--security, my dear sir!--money!
human
But, curse me! (excuse me, Gammon,) why go to Tag-rag? _That's_ what I can't understand! Surely any one will advance almost any amount of money to Titmouse, with such security as he can now give!
gpt
Very possibly--probably
human
Possibly? Why, I myself don't mind advancing him five thousand--nay, ten thousand pounds--when we've once got hold of the title-deeds.
gpt
My dear sir, interrupted Gammon, calmly, but with a very serious air, and a slight change of color which did not happen to attract the notice of his eager companion,
human
What reason, Gammon, _can_ there be against my advancing money on a security worth at least twenty times the sum borrowed?
gpt
I can but assure you, that were I called upon to say whether I would advance a serious sum of money to Titmouse on the security of the Yatton estates, I should at all events require a most substantial _collateral_ security.
human
Mystery again! exclaimed Mr. Quirk, a sigh of vexation escaping him.
gpt
You'll excuse me, Gammon, but you'd puzzle an angel, to say nothing of the devil! May I presume for one moment, so far on our personal and professional relationship, as to ask what the reason is on which your advice rests?
human
Mere caution--excessive caution--anxiety to place you out of the way of all risk. Surely, is your borrower so soon to be pronounced firm in the saddle?
gpt
If you know anything, Gammon, that I don't, it's your bounden duty to communicate it! _Look at our articles!_
human
It is; _but do I_ know anything! Prove that, Mr. Quirk, and you need trouble yourself no more!--but, in the mean while, (without saying how much I feel hurt at your evident distrust,) I have but a word or two further to add on this point.
gpt
My opinion is, that you should get _some third party_ or parties to advance any required sum, and prevail upon Tag-rag to join in a collateral security, without--if possible--making him aware of the extent of liability he is incurring. By exciting him with the ridiculous notion of an attachment between his daughter and Titmouse, he may be induced to give his signature, as to some complimentary matter of form only--Now, that's my opinion, Mr. Quirk; not lightly or hastily formed; and it rests upon a deep feeling of personal regard towards you, and also our common interests.
human
Gammon, at length said he, affecting a smile,
gpt
Faust--Faust,
human
Well; and now, what was the name of that fellow that was always--Meph--Meph--what was it?
gpt
Mephistopheles,
human
Ah--yes! so it was. That's all; I only wanted to think of the name--I'd forgotten it. I beg your pardon, Gammon.
gpt
If it hadn't been for what's passed between us to-day, Gammon, I should almost begin to think that you were not sincere in your friendship
human
Did I ever deceive you? Did I ever attempt to overreach you in anything, Mr. Quirk?
gpt
N--o--o--, replied Mr. Quirk--but not in the readiest manner, or most confident tone in the world,--
human
I certainly can't say I ever found you out--but I'll tell you what, we each keep a precious sharp look-out after each other, too--don't we?
gpt
How long, said the latter,
human
I am to be the subject of such unkind suspicions, I do not know; but your nature is suspicious; and as every one has his fault, that is the alloy in the otherwise pure gold of your manly, generous, and straightforward character. Time may show how you have wronged me. My anxious wish is, Mr. Quirk, to witness your daughter occupying a position in which we may all be proud to see her.
gpt
I do really believe, Gammon, said he, eagerly,
human
So indeed, my dear sir, do I. There's a mingled softness and spirit in Miss Quirk
gpt
She's a good girl, a good girl, Gammon! I hope he'll use her well if he gets her. His voice trembled.
human
She's got very much attached to him! Gad, she's quite altered lately; and my sister tells me that she's always playing dismal music when he's not there. But we can talk over these matters at another time. Gad, Gammon, you can't think how it's relieved me, to open my mind to you on this matter! We quite understand each other _now_, Gammon--eh?
gpt
Quite,