"_P. S._--Hope you will Particularly Remember me to Mr. Gamon. What is to become of me, know nothing, being so troubled. Am Humbly Determined not to employ any Gents in This matter except y^r most Respectable House, and sh^d be most Truly Sorry to Go Abroad wh^h _am really Often thinking of in Earnest_. Unless something Speedily Turns Up, favorable, T. T.--Sh^d like (By the way) to know if you sh^d be so Disposed what y^r resp^e house w^d take for my Chances Down (_Out and out_) In a Round Sum (_Ready money_). And hope if they Write It will be by Next Post or Shall be Gone Abroad." Old Mr. Quirk, as soon as he had finished the perusal of this skilful document, started, a little disturbed, from his seat, and bustled into Mr. Gammon's room with Mr. Titmouse's open letter in his hand.--"Gammon," said he, "just cast your eye over this, will you? Really, we must look after Titmouse, or, by Jove! he'll be gone!" Mr. Gammon took the letter rather eagerly, read deliberately through it, and then looked up at his fidgety partner, who stood anxiously eying him, and smiled. "Well, Gammon, I really think--eh? Don't you"---- "Upon my word, Mr. Quirk, this nearly equals his last letter; and it also seems to have produced on you the effect desired by its gifted writer!" "Well, Gammon, and what of that? Because my heart don't happen to be _quite_ a piece of flint, you're always"-- "You might have been a far wealthier man than you are but for that soft heart of yours, Mr. Quirk," said Gammon, with a bland smile.(!) "I know I might, Gammon--I know it. I thank my God I'm not so keen after business that I can't feel for this poor soul--really, his state's quite deplorable." "Then, my dear sir, put your hand into your pocket at once, as I was suggesting last night, and allow him a weekly sum." "A--hem! hem! Gammon"--said Quirk, sitting down, thrusting his hands into his waistcoat pockets, and looking very earnestly at Gammon. "Well, then," replied that gentleman, shrugging his shoulders, in answer to the mute appeal--"write and say you _won't_--'tis soon done, and so the matter ends." "Why, Gammon, you see, if he goes abroad," said Quirk, after a long pause--"we lose him forever." "Pho!--go abroad! He's too much for you, Mr. Quirk--he is indeed, ha, ha!" "You're fond of a laugh at my expense, Gammon; it's quite pleasant--you can't think how I like that laugh of yours!"