"Ay! ay!--What think you of three days--give him three days to turn about in?--There he's living all the while in a d--d fine house at the West End, like a gentleman--looks down, I'll be sworn, on us poor attorneys already, beggar as he is, because he's coming to the bar. Now mind, Gammon, no nonsense! I won't stand your coming in again as you did before--if I write--honor between thieves! eh?" "I pledge my honor to you, my dear sir, that I will interfere no more; the law must take its course." "That's it!" said Mr. Quirk, rubbing his hands gleefully; "I'll tip him a tickler before he's a day older that shall wake him up--ah, ha!" "You will do me one favor, Mr. Quirk, I am sure," said Mr. Gammon, with that civil but peremptory manner of his, which invariably commanded Quirk's assent to his suggestions--"you will insert a disclaimer in the letter of its emanating from _me_--or being with my consent." "Oh lud, yes! yes! anything." "Nay--rather _against my wish_, you know--eh? Just for appearance's sake--as I have always appeared so infernally civil to the man, till now." "Will you draw it up yourself? And then, so as the _other_ matter's all right--no flinching--stick in as much palaver, Gammon!--aha!--as you like!" replied Quirk; who, as the proposal involved only a greater measure of discourtesy on _his_ part, without any sacrifice of his _interest_, regarded it with perfect indifference. He took his leave of Gammon in better spirits than those which he had carried with him. It having been thus determined on by the partners, that within a day or two's time, Mr. Aubrey should be required to pay the whole balance, under penalty of an arrest--Gammon, on being left alone, folded his arms as he sat beside his breakfast-table--and meditated on the probable results of this his first hostile move against Mr. Aubrey. "I wonder whether she's told him," thought he, with a slight palpitation--which was somewhat increased by a pretty sharp knock at his outer door. The color suddenly deserted his cheek as he started from his seat, scattering on the floor nearly a dozen unopened letters which had been lying at his elbow, on the table: and he stood still for a moment to subdue a little of his agitation, so as to enable him to present himself with some show of calmness before the visitor whom he felt perfectly certain that he should see on opening the door. He was right. The next minute beheld him ushering into his room, with a surprising degree of self-possession, Mr. Aubrey, whose countenance showed embarrassment and agitation. "I have called upon you, Mr. Gammon," commenced Aubrey, taking the seat to which Mr. Gammon, with great courtesy, motioned him, and then resumed his own, "in consequence of your visit yesterday in Vivian Street--of your surprising interview with my sister--your most unexpected, extraordinary proposal to her." Mr. Gammon listened respectfully, with an air of earnest attention, evidently not intending to make any reply.