Part 42 (1/2)

CHAPTER 34

Wherein Mr Ralph Nickleby is visited by Persons hom the Reader has been alreadyti at this confounded old cracked tea-kettle of a bell, every tinkle of which is enough to throw a strong man into blue convulsions, upon s, scraping his boots, as he spoke, on Ralph Nickleby's scraper

'I didn't hear the bell more than once,' replied Neweously deaf,' said Mr Mantalini, 'as deaf as a deot by this ti his way to the door of Ralph's office with very little cere that Mr Nickleby was unwilling to be disturbed, inquired whether the client's business was of a pressing nature

'It is most demnebly particular,' said Mr Mantalini 'It is to , chinking, tinkling, derunt, and taking Mr Mantalini's proffered card, limped with it into his master's office As he thrust his head in at the door, he saw that Ralph had resuhtful posture into which he had fallen after perusing his nephew's letter, and that he seeain, as he once lance was butdisturbed, turned to demand the cause of the interruption

As Newered into the roo Ralph's horny hand with unco so well in all his life

'There is quite a bloo hi his hair and whiskers 'You look quite juvenile and jolly, demmit!'

'We are alone,' returned Ralph, tartly 'What do you ithhis teeth 'What did I want! Yes Ha, ha! Very good WHAT did I want Ha, ha Oh dem!'

'What DO you want, man?' demanded Ralph, sternly

'Derin, and shaking his head waggishly

'Money is scarce,' said Ralph

'Demd scarce, or I shouldn't want it,' interrupted Mr Mantalini

'The times are bad, and one scarcely knohom to trust,' continued Ralph 'I don't want to do business just now, in fact I would rather not; but as you are a friend-how many bills have you there?'

'Two,' returned Mr Mantalini

'What is the gross a-five-and-seventy'

'And the dates?'

'Two months, and four'

'I'll do them for you-mind, for YOU; I wouldn't for many people-for five-and-twenty pounds,' said Ralph, deliberately

'Oh dethened considerably at this handsome proposal

'Why, that leaves you fifty,' retorted Ralph 'What would you have? Let me see the names'

'You are so demd hard, Nickleby,' remonstrated Mr Mantalini

'Lethis hand for the bills 'Well! They are not sure, but they are safe enough Do you consent to the terms, and will you take the money? I don't want you to do so I would rather you didn't'

'Dean Mr Mantalini

'No,' replied Ralph, interrupting him 'I can't Will you take theinto the city and pretending to negotiate with some other party who has no existence, and never had Is it a bargain, or is it not?'

Ralph pushed some papers from hih by mere accident The sound was too ain directly it reached his ears, and Ralph told the money out upon the table

He had scarcely done so, and Mr Mantalini had not yet gathered it all up, when a ring was heard at the bell, and immediately afterwards Newht of whom Mr Mantalini evinced considerable discomposure, and swept the cash into his pocket with remarkable alacrity

'Oh, you ARE here,' said Mada her head

'Yes,on his knees, and pouncing with kitten-like playfulness upon a stray sovereign 'I a up the deold and silver'

'I anation

'Asha sweetness, but naughty fibs,' returned Mr Mantalini 'It knows it is not ashamed of its own popolorum tibby'

Whatever were the circumstances which had led to such a result, it certainly appeared as though the popolorum tibby had rather miscalculated, for the nonce, the extent of his lady's affection Mada to Ralph, begged him to excuse her intrusion

'Which is entirely attributable,' said Madaross misconduct and most improper behaviour of Mr Mantalini'

'Of me, my essential juice of pineapple!'

'Of you,' returned his wife 'But I will not allow it I will not subacy of any man I call Mr Nickleby to witness the course I intend to pursue with you'

'Pray don't call , ma'am,' said Ralph 'Settle it between yourselves, settle it between yourselves'

'No, but Iyou as a favour,' said Madaive him notice of what it is my fixed intention to do- an angry look at her husband

'Will she call me ”Sir”?' cried Mantalini 'Me who dote upon her with the demdest ardour! She, who coils her fascinations round elic rattlesnake! It will be all up with s; she will throw s, sir,' rejoined Mada her back upon him 'You don't consider mine'

'I do not consider yours, my soul!' exclaimed Mr Mantalini

'No,' replied his wife

And notwithstanding various blandishments on the part of Mr Mantalini, Madame Mantalini still said no, and said it too with such determined and resolute ill-temper, that Mr Mantalini was clearly taken aback