"'I shouldn't have thought he was a good one for paying, Mr. Snaps,' I replied, thinking of the fare. "'Nor I, Pounce,' said Snaps; 'but, hark-ye, be sure you are in the way to-morrow at three;' and we parted,--Mr. Snaps being a religious man, and deacon of Zion Tabernacle in Jehoshaphat Terrace, to attend lecture, and I to finish a match at bumble-puppy at the Pig and Tweezers. "The very next day, at three, punctual came M'Flummery, and I'm blessed if it didn't take four porters to carry the chest he brought with him. (By the way, I may here promiscuously observe, that in the experience of a long professional life I never knew but one case of unpunctuality in the attendance of people who had _to receive_ money, and that was explained by the fact of the party's dying of the cholera over night.) The chest was duly brought up stairs, and deposited in a corner of Mr. Snaps' private room." "'Now, Snaps,' said M'Flummery, 'I hope you are ready with the needful two thousand upon the nail.'--'Why, my dear sir,' said my master, 'I have with great difficulty been able to manage _one_ thousand.' "'Two thousand was the sum agreed for,' said M'Flummery.--'True, my dear sir; but money is money.' "'Ay! and holders are firm, it appears, Snaps; but look at the security; plate will always fetch a safe and certain sum.'--'Satisfactory; truly so, my dear sir. Most unquestionable; but----' "'Come, we are losing time. In a word, put fifteen hundred down on the desk, and we close; if not, I'm off to old Lombard.'--'Say twelve hundred,' cried Snaps, 'and I'll see what I can do.' "'Fifteen,' said M'Flummery.--'It will not leave me a farthing,' said Snaps; 'and if I do find the odd five hundred, it must be added to the bond.' "'Well! add it, and be d--d to you, Shylock the second!' said M'Flummery; 'you shall have your bond;' and he burst out into what I considered an unnecessary loud laugh. "The money was counted, and the bond drawn out. "'But, now,' said my master, 'if you please, you'll pardon me, my dear sir; but, in order that there may be no mistake, you will let my confidential clerk, Pounce, take a view of the contents of the chest.' "'Most certainly,' said M'Flummery; and, unlocking it, he desired me to see if the articles corresponded with the inventory. "I did so, and found that my master gave an approving look. After lifting up the several trays, and handling and examining some four or five articles, M'Flummery, turning to Snaps, said, "'Are you satisfied, Mr. Snaps?' "'Quite so,' said my master. "'Then there only remains one thing to satisfy me,' said M'Flummery, locking the box and padlocks. 'This box will be in your possession for eighteen months as security; but, as I do not wish to have _my plate hired out_ or _used_, you will pardon me, Mr. Snaps,--I only say this in order, as you observed, that there may be 'no mistake,'--I will put my seal upon the chest, and keep the key!' "'The key!' said Snaps; 'my dear sir!'