human
Well, that will do to begin with, said Titmouse,
gpt
Leave him to me, my dear Titmouse, or rather to Mr. Quirk--who'll _wring_ him before he's done with him, I warrant you! But, in the mean while, if I work day and night, I will relieve you from this claim of Mr. Quirk: for, in fact, I have little or no _real_ interest in the matter.
human
You'll take a slapping slice out of the bond, eh? Aha, Mr. Gammon!--But what were you saying you'd do for me?
gpt
I repeat, that I am your only disinterested friend, Mr. Titmouse; I shall never see a hundred pounds of what is going into Mr. Quirk's hands; who, I must say, however, added Gammon, with sudden caution,
human
My eyes! exclaimed Titmouse, excitedly; quickly, however, adding with a sad air--
gpt
He _is_ rather a keen and hard--ahem! I own; but
human
On no consideration, Mr. Titmouse; it would be a fatal step for you--and indeed for me.
gpt
What! and can _he_ do anything, too? I thought it was only you. --The little fool had brought a glimpse of color into Gammon's cheek--but Titmouse's volatility quickly relieved his tripping Prospero.
human
By the way--'pon my life--sha'n't I have to pay it all back again! There's a go! I hadn't thought of that.
gpt
I shall first try to get it out of Mr. Aubrey, said Gammon,
human
They then got into a long and confidential conversation together; in the course of which, Titmouse happened to pop out a little secret of his, which till then he had managed to keep from Gammon, and which occasioned that gentleman a great and sudden inward confusion--one which it was odd that so keen an observer as Titmouse did not perceive indications of in the countenance of Gammon; viz. his--Titmouse's--fervent and disinterested love for Miss Aubrey. While he was rattling on with eager volubility upon this topic, Gammon, after casting about a little in his mind, as to how he should deal with this interesting discovery, resolved for the present to humor the notion, and got out of Titmouse a full and particular account of his original