"Hey? Money to invest? No, thank you. But don't talk shop, man. I wonder so good a creature thinks so much of money. But you keep a carriage?" "Oh yes," said Max, smiling good-humouredly at his wife, as if to say, "You see, he will have his joke!" "And horses?" "Of course," said Max, smiling. "There, don't put on that imbecile smile," cried Hopper. "There's only been one decent dish on the table yet, and I've got some of it now. You don't send your horses out to work in their nosebags? so don't make me work when I've got on mine. I'm hard of hearing, but I'm fond of my digestion. Don't treat your guest worse than your horses." "You always did like a joke, Hopper," said Max. "Joke!--it's no joke," cried Hopper, pointing at a pie before him. "Look at that--there's a thing to eat! Look at the crust: just like the top of a brown skull, with all the sutures marked, ready to thrust a knife in and open it,--only it's apple inside instead of brains." Mrs Max gave a horrified glance at Violante. At last the dessert was placed on the table, and in due time the ladies rose, Tom following them shortly, and Fred, with a sneering look at his brother, rising, and saying he should go and have a cigar. "You don't smoke, I suppose, old Hopper?" "Hey? Not smoke? Yes, I do; but I shall have a pipe." Left alone, the visitor condescended to talk about Richard, and gave Max a full account of his handsomely furnished house; growing so confidential that, when he took his cup of coffee, he drew nearer and nearer, gesticulating as he described the rich Turkey carpets. "He must be very rich," said Max at last, as he tapped the mahogany table with his fingers. "Not saved much, I should say," replied Hopper; "but he's making money fast. So are you." "Um--no. I'm very heavily insured, though." "Not in the Oldwives' Friendly?" said Hopper, with a curious look, though he knew the fact well. "Well--er--er--yes, I am," said Max. "They'll go to smash," said Hopper eagerly. "Haven't you heard the rumours?" "Ye-es," faltered Max. "The scoundrels! And you such a good man, too, who has saved up and toiled for his family. I tell you what I'd do," he said earnestly. "What?" cried Max, turning to him with the eagerness of one in peril. "They must last another twelvemonth, and pay up liabilities till then." "Yes, they must do that, I should say," said Max. "Then die at once, and let your people draw the money!" cried Hopper, slapping him in the breast, and gazing at him with the most serious of aspects. "So good and self-denying! You all over." Max started back, with horror in his countenance, and glared at Hopper, whose countenance, however, never for a moment changed; and he hastily poured himself out a glass of port and tossed it off.