"What are you doing here, sir?--You're no longer in my employment, sir," exclaimed Tag-rag, attempting to speak calmly, as he hurried down the shop, white with rage, to meet Titmouse, and planted himself right in the way of his languid and pallid shopman. "Sir!"--faintly exclaimed Titmouse, with his hat in his hand. "Very much obliged, sir--very! by the offer of your valuable services," said Tag-rag. "But--_that's_ the way out again, sir--that!--there!--good-morning, sir--good-morning, sir!--that's the way out"--and he egged on Titmouse, till he had got him fairly into the street--with infinite difficulty restraining himself from giving the extruded sinner a parting kick! Titmouse stood for a moment before the door, trembling and aghast, looking in a bewildered manner at the shop: but Tag-rag again making his appearance, Titmouse slowly walked away and returned to his lodgings. Oh that Mr. Gammon had witnessed the scene--thought he--and so have been satisfied that it had been Tag-rag who had put an end to his service, not he himself who had quitted it! The next day, about the same hour, Mr. Gammon made his appearance at the establishment from which Titmouse had been expelled so summarily, and inquired for Mr. Tag-rag, who presently presented himself--and recognizing Mr. Gammon, whose presence naturally suggested the previous day's transaction with Titmouse, changed color a little. "What did you please to want, sir?" inquired Mr. Tag-rag, with a would-be resolute air, twirling round his watch-key with some energy. "Only a few minutes' conversation, sir, if you please," said Mr. Gammon, with such a significant manner as a little disturbed Mr. Tag-rag; who, with an ill-supported sneer, bowed very low, and led the way to his own little room. Having closed the door, he, with an exceedingly civil air, begged Mr. Gammon to be seated; and then occupied the chair opposite to him, and awaited the issue with ill-disguised anxiety. "I am _very_ sorry, Mr. Tag-rag," commenced Gammon, in his usual elegant and feeling manner, "that any misunderstanding should have arisen between you and Mr. Titmouse!" "You're a lawyer, sir, I suppose?" Mr. Gammon bowed. "Then you must know, sir, that there are always two sides to a quarrel," said Mr. Tag-rag, anxiously. "Yes--you are right, Mr. Tag-rag; and, having already heard Mr. Titmouse's version, may I be favored with _your_ account of your reasons for discharging him? For he tells us that yesterday you dismissed him suddenly from your employment, without giving him any warn"---- "So I did, sir; and what of that?" inquired Tag-rag, tossing his head with a sudden air of defiance. "Things are come to a pretty pass indeed, when a man at the head of such an establishment as mine, can't dismiss a drunken, idle, impertinent--abusive vagabond." Here Mr. Gammon somewhat significantly took out his tablets--as if to note down the language of his companion.