"Now, Tit," whispered Huckaback, after they had paused for a second or two--"now for it--pluck up a sperrit--ring!" "I--I--'pon my life--I feel all of a sudden uncommon funky--I think that last cigar of yours wasn't"---- "Stuff, Tit--ring! ring away! Faint heart never wins!" "Well, it _must_ be done: so--here goes at any rate!" he replied; and with a short nervous jerk, he caused a startling clatter within, which was so distinctly audible without, that both of them instinctively _hemmed_, as if to drown the noise which was so much greater than they had expected. In a very few moments they heard some one undoing the fastenings of the door, and the gentlemen looked at one another with an expression of mingled expectation and apprehension. A little old woman at length, with a candle in her hand, retaining the heavy door-chain in its fastening, peered round the edge of the door at them. "Who are you?" she exclaimed crustily. "Is this Messrs.--What is it, Huck?--Oh! Messrs. Quirk & Co.'s?" inquired Titmouse, tapping the end of his cane against his chin, with a desperate effort to appear at his ease. "Why, where's your eyes?" she replied angrily, "I should think you might have seen what was wrote on this here plate--it's large enough, one should have thought, to be read by them as _can_ read--Is your's Newgate business? Because if----" "We want--Give us the paper, Hucky"--he added, addressing his companion, who produced it in a moment; and Titmouse would have proceeded to possess the old lady of all his little heart, when she cut him short by saying snappishly--"They aren't none on 'em in; nor never is on Sundays--so you'll just call to-morrow if you wants 'em. What's your names?" "Mr. Tittlebat Titmouse," answered that gentleman, with a very particular emphasis on every syllable. "Mr. _who_?" exclaimed the old woman, opening her eyes very wide, and raising her hand to the back of her ear. Mr. Titmouse repeated his name more loudly and distinctly. "Tippetytippety--what's that?" "No, no!" exclaimed Titmouse, peevishly; "I said, Mr. Tit-el-bat Tit-mouse!--will that suit you?" "Tick-a-tick-a-tick?--Well, gracious! if ever I heard such a name. Oh!--I see!--you're making a fool of me! Get off, or I'll call a constable in!--Get along with you, you couple of jail-birds! Is this the way"---- "I tell you," interposed Mr. Huckaback, angrily, "that this gentleman's name is Mr. Tittlebat Titmouse; and you'd better take care what you're at, old woman, for we've come on business of _wital consequence_!" "I dare say it'll keep, then, till to-morrow," tartly added the old woman. The friends consulted for a moment, and then Titmouse asked if he might come in and write a letter to Messrs. Quirk and Co.