"Why, that's the thing," continued Titmouse, in a faltering tone, and with a depressed look--"That was what I wanted to know myself; for they said I'd better go back!! So I said, 'Gents,' said I, 'I'll be---- if I'll go back to the shop any more;' and I snapped my fingers at them--so! (for you know what a chap I am when my blood's up.) And they all turned gashly pale--they did, upon my life--you never saw anything like it! And one of them said then, in a humble way, 'Wouldn't I please to go back to the shop, just for a day or two, till things is got to rights a bit.' 'Not a day nor a minute!' says I, in an immense rage. 'We think you'd better, really,' said they. 'Then,' says I, 'if that's your plan, curse me if I won't cut with you all, and I'll employ some one else!' and--would you believe me?--out I went, bang! into the street!!" "You _did_, Tit!!" echoed Huckaback, aghast. "They shouldn't have given me so much brandy and water as they did; I didn't well know what I was about, what with the news and the spirits!" "And you went into the street?" inquired Huckaback, with a kind of horror. "I did, by Jove, Hucky!" "They'd given you the sperrits to see what kind of chap you'd be if you got the property--only to try you, depend on it!" "Lord! I--I dare say they did!" exclaimed Titmouse, elevating his head with sudden amazement, totally forgetting that same brandy and water he had asked for--"and me never to think of it at the time." "Now are you quite sure you wasn't in a _dream_ last night, all the while?" "Oh, dear, I wish I had been--I do, indeed, Hucky!" "Well--you went into the street--what then?" inquired Huckaback, with a sigh of exhausted attention. "Why, when I'd got there, I could have bitten my tongue off, as one may suppose; but, just as I was a-turning to go in again, who should come up to me but Mr. Gammon, saying, he humbly hoped there was no offence." "Oh, glorious! So it was all set right again, then--eh?" "Why--I--I can't quite exactly say that much, either--but--when I went back, (being obligated by Mr. Gammon being so pressing,) the other two was sitting as pale as death; and though Mr. Gammon and me went on our knees to the old gent, it wasn't any use for a long time; and all that he could be got to say was, that perhaps I might look in again to-night--(but they first made me swear a solemn oath on the Bible never to tell any one anything about the fortune)--and then--you went, Huckaback, and you did the business; they of course concluding I'd sent you!" "Oh, bother! that can't be. Don't you see how civilly they speak of me in their letter? They're afraid of me, you may depend on it. By the way, Tit, how much did you promise to come down, if you got the thing?" "_Come down!_--I--really--by Jove, I didn't think of such a thing! No--I'm sure I didn't"--answered Titmouse, as if new light had burst in upon him.