"Nay, try! anything! And as for money, I've persuaded Mr. Quirk to consent to our advancing you a certain sum per week, from the present time, while the cause is going on,"--(Titmouse's heart began to beat fast,)--"in order to place you above absolute inconvenience; and when you consider the awful sums we shall have to disburse--cash out of pocket--(the tongues of counsel, you know, are set on gold springs, and only gold keys open their lips!)--for court-fees, and a thousand other indispensable matters, I should candidly say that four thousand pounds of hard cash out of pocket, advanced by our firm in your case, would be the very lowest." (Titmouse stared at him with an expression of stupid wonder.) "Yes--four thousand pounds, Mr. Titmouse, at the very least--the _very_ least." Again he paused, keenly scrutinizing Titmouse's features by the light of the candles, which just then were brought in. "You seem surprised, Mr. Titmouse." "Why--why--where's all the money to come from, sir?" exclaimed Titmouse, aghast. "Ah! that is indeed a fearful question,"--replied Gammon, with a very serious air; "but at my request, our firm has agreed to make the necessary advances; and also (for _I_ could not bear the sight of your distress, Mr. Titmouse!) to supply your necessities liberally in the mean time, as I was saying." "Won't you take another glass of wine, Mr. Gammon?" suddenly inquired Titmouse, with a confident air. "With all my heart, Mr. Titmouse! I'm delighted that you approve of it. I paid enough for it, I can warrant you." "Cuss me if ever I tasted such wine! Uncommon! Come--no heel-taps, Mr. Gammon--here goes--let's drink--success to the affair!" "With all my heart, my dear sir--with all my heart. Success to the thing--amen!" and Gammon drained his glass; so did Titmouse. "Ah! Mr. Titmouse, you'll soon have wine enough to float a frigate--and indeed what not--with ten thousand a-year?" "And all the back-rents, you know--ha, ha!" "Yes--to be sure!--the back-rents! The sweetest estate that is to be found in all Yorkshire! Gracious, Mr. Titmouse!" continued Gammon, with an excited air--"What may you not do? Go where you like--do what you like--get into Parliament--marry some lovely woman of high rank!" "Lord, Mr. Gammon!--you a'n't dreaming? Nor I? But now, in course, _you_ must be paid handsome for your trouble!--Only say how much--Name your sum! What you please! You only get me all you've said--and I'll"---- "For my part, I wish to rely entirely on your mere word of honor. Between gentlemen, you know--my dear sir"---- "You only try me, sir." "But you see, Mr. Quirk's getting old, and naturally is anxious to provide for those whom he will leave behind him--and so Mr. Snap agreed with him--two to one against me, Mr. Titmouse--of course they carried the day--two to one." "Never mind that!--only say the figure, sir!" cried Titmouse, eagerly. "A single year's income, only--ten thousand pounds will hardly"----