Mr. Larkin confronted the Jew, with his great hands upon Mr. Levi's shoulders, so as to prevent his advance; but that slender Hebrew, who was an accomplished sparrer, gave the godly attorney a jerk by the elbows which quite twirled him about, to his amazement and chagrin. "'Andsh off, old chap," said the Jew, grimly, to Mr. Larkin, who had not endured such a liberty since he was at his cheap day-school, nearly forty years ago. But Mr. Larkin interposed again, much alarmed, for behind him he thought he heard the clink of the fire-irons. "He thinks he may say what he pleases," cried the old man's voice furiously, with a kind of choking laugh. "No, sir--no, Mr. Dingwell--I assure you--_do_, Mr. Levi--how _can_ you mind him?" he added in an undertone, as he stood between. "I _don't_ mind him, Mr. Larkin: only I won't let no one draw it that sort. I won't stand a lick of a poker for no one; he shan't come that over me"--and concurrently with this the shrill voice of Mr. Dingwell was yelling-- "Because I'm--because I'm--I'm--every d--d little whipper-snapper--because they think I'm down, the _wretches_, I'm to submit to their insults!" "I _don't_ want to hurt him, Mr. Larkin; if I did, I'd give'm his tea in a mug this minute; but I don't, I say--only he shan't lift a poker to _me_." "No one, my dear sir, has touched a poker; no one, Mr. Levi, ever dreamed of such a thing. Pray, my dear sir, my dear Mr. Dingwell, don't misconceive; we use slang phrases, now and then, without the _least_ meaning or disrespect: it has become quite the ton_g_. I assure you--it was only last week, at Nyworth Castle, where I had the honour to be received, Lady Mary Wrangham used the phrase _yarn_, for a long story." "D--n you, can't you answer my question?" said Mr. Dingwell, more in his accustomed vein. "Certainly, sir, we'll reply to it. Do, Mr. Levi, _do_ leave the room; your presence at this moment only leads to excitement." Levi, for a moment, pondered fiercely, and then nodded a sulky acquiescence. "I shall overtake you in the court, Mr. Levi, if you can wait two or three minutes there." The Jew nodded over his shoulder, and was gone. "Mr. Dingwell, sir, I can't, I assure you. It's not in my power; it is in the hands of quite other people, on whom, ultimately, of course, these expenses will fall, to sanction the outlay by way of weekly allowance, which you suggest. It is true I am a contributor, but not exactly in cash; only in money's worth--advice, experience, and technical knowledge. But I will apply in the proper quarter, without delay. I wish, Mr. Dingwell, I _were_ the party; you and I would not, I venture to think, be long in settling it between us."