_Burs._ (_sullenly_). You are easily killed, then, if that much laughing will do the business. _Wheel._ (_coughing_). Just then—something stuck in my throat; I beg your pardon. _Burs._ (_still sullen_). Oh, you need not beg my pardon about the matter. I don’t care whether you laugh or no—not I. Now you have got Lord John to declare for you, you are above laughing at my jokes, I suppose. _Wheel._ No, upon my word and honour, I _did_ laugh. _Burs._ (_aside_). A fig for your word and honour. (_Aloud_.) I know I’m of no consequence now; but you’ll remember, that if his lordship has the honour of making you captain, he must have the honour to pay for your captain’s accoutrements; for I sha’n’t pay the piper, I promise you, since I’m of no consequence. _Wheel._ Of no consequence! But, my dear Bursal, what could put that into your head? that’s the strangest, oddest fancy. Of no consequence! Bursal, of no consequence! Why, everybody that knows anything—everybody that has seen Bursal House—knows that you are of the greatest consequence, my dear Bursal. _Burs._ (_taking out his watch_, _and opening it_, _looks at it_). No, I’m of no consequence. I wonder that rascal Finsbury is not come yet with the dresses (_still looking at his watch_). _Wheel._ (_aside_). If Bursal takes it into his head not to lend me the money to pay for my captain’s dress, what will become of me? for I have not a shilling—and Lord John won’t pay for me—and Finsbury has orders not to leave the house till he is paid by everybody. What will become of me?—(_bites his nails_). _Burs._ (_aside_). How I love to make him bite his nails! (_Aloud_.) I know I’m of no consequence. (_Strikes his repeater_.) _Wheel._ What a fine repeater that is of yours, Bursal! It is the best I ever heard. _Burs._ So it well may be; for it cost a mint of money. _Wheel._ No matter to you what anything costs. Happy dog as you are! You roll in money; and yet you talk of being of no consequence. _Burs._ But I am not of half so much consequence as Lord John—am I? _Wheel._ Are you? Why, aren’t you twice as rich as he! _Burs._ Very true, but I’m not purse-proud. _Wheel._ You purse-proud! I should never have thought of such a thing. _Burs._ Nor I, if Talbot had not used the word. _Wheel._ But Talbot thinks everybody purse-proud that has a purse. _Burs._ (_aside_). Well, this Wheeler does put one into a good humour with one’s self in spite of one’s teeth. (_Aloud_.) Talbot says blunt things; but I don’t think he’s what you can call clever—hey, Wheeler? _Wheel._ Clever? Oh, not he. _Burs._ I think I could walk round him. _Wheel._ To be sure you could. Why, do you know, I’ve quizzed him famously myself within this quarter of an hour! _Burs._ Indeed! I wish I had been by.