But for this, indeed, it is probable that Mr. Huckaback's door would have become as hopelessly closed against Titmouse as was that of Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap. Some two or three nights after the little transaction between the two friends which I have been describing, Huckaback called upon Titmouse, and after greeting him rather cordially, told him that he had come to put him up to a trick upon the Saffron Hill people, that would tickle them into a little activity in his affairs. The trick was--the sending a letter to those gentlemen calculated to--but why attempt to characterize it? I have the original document lying before me, which was sent by Titmouse the very next morning to Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap; and here follows a _verbatim_ copy of it:-- "_No. 9, Closet Court, Oxford Street._ "_To Messrs._ QUERK & CO. "Gents,--Am Sorry _to_ Trouble You, But Being _Drove quite desperate_ at my Troubles (which have bro^t me to my Last Penny a Week ago) and Mrs. Squallop my Landlady w^d distrain on Me only that There Is nothing to distrain on, Am Determined to Go Abroad in a Week's Time, and shall Never come Any More back again with Great Grief w^h Is What I now Write To tell You Of (Hoping you will please Take No notice of It) So Need give Yourselves No Further Concern with my Concerns Seeing The Estate is Not To Be Had and Am Sorry you Sh^d Have Had so Much trouble with My Affairs w^h c^d not Help. Sh^d have Much liked The Thing, only it Was Not worth Stopping For, or Would, but Since It Was not God's Will be Done _which it Will_. Hav^g raised a Trifle On my Future Prospects (w^h am Certain There is Nothing In) from a _True Friend_" [need it be guessed at whose instance these words had found their way into the letter?] "w^h was certainly uncommon inconvenient to That Person But He w^d do Anything to Do me good As he says Am going to raise A Little More from a Gent That does _Things of That Nature_ w^h will help me with Expense in Going Abroad (which place I Never mean to Return from.) Have fixed for the 10th To Go on w^h Day Shall Take leave Of Mr. Tag-rag (who on my Return Shall be glad to See Buried or in the Workhouse.) Have wrote This letter Only to Save Y^r Respectable Selves trouble w^h Trust You w^d not have Taken. "And Remain, "Gents, "Y^r humble Unworthy servant, "T. TITMOUSE.