Part 47 (2/2)

'Here, draw the table nearer, and let us have the cards again,' said Sir Mulberry 'More piquet Coerly the sick e of position save theof his head froress of the gaerness and interest he played, and yet hoarily and coolly His address and skill were more than twenty tiainst theood cards, which was not often the case Sir Mulberry won every game; and when his coer, thrust forth his wasted arht up the stakes with a boastful oath, and the sah considerably lowered in tone, that had resounded in Ralph Nickleby's dining-room, months before

While he was thus occupied, his man appeared, to announce that Mr Ralph Nickleby was below, and wished to knoas, tonight

'Better,' said Sir Mulberry, impatiently

'Mr Nickleby wishes to know, sir-'

'I tell you, better,' replied Sir Mulberry, striking his hand upon the table

The man hesitated for a moment or two, and then said that Mr Nickleby had requested permission to see Sir Mulberry Hawk, if it was not inconvenient

'It IS inconvenient I can't see him I can't see anybody,' said his master, more violently than before 'You know that, you blockhead'

'I am very sorry, sir,' returned the man 'But Mr Nickleby pressed so much, sir-'

The fact was, that Ralph Nickleby had bribed theanxious to earn his money with a view to future favours, held the door in his hand, and ventured to linger still

'Did he say whether he had any business to speak about?' inquired Sir Mulberry, after a little impatient consideration

'No, sir He said he wished to see you, sir Particularly, Mr Nickleby said, sir'

'Tell hi the ured face, 'move that lamp, and put it on the stand behind me Wheel that table away, and place a chair there-further off Leave it so'

The man obeyed these directions as if he quite comprehended the motive hich they were dictated, and left the roo that he would look in presently, strolled into the adjoining apart door behind him

Then was heard a subdued footstep on the stairs; and Ralph Nickleby, hat in hand, crept softly into the room, with his body bent forward as if in profound respect, and his eyes fixed upon the face of his worthy client

'Well, Nickleby,' said Sir Mulberry,his hand in assumed carelessness, 'I have had a bad accident, you see'

'I see,' rejoined Ralph, with the saaze 'Bad, indeed! I should not have known you, Sir Mulberry Dear, dear! This IS bad'

Ralph's manner was one of profound humility and respect; and the low tone of voice was that, which the gentlest consideration for a sick ht a visitor to assu averted, was in extraordinary contrast; and as he stood, in his usual attitude, cal on the prostrate form before him, all that part of his features which was not cast into shadow by his protruding and contracted brows, bore the impress of a sarcastic s towards hiht, that you stand gazing there?'

As he turned his face, Ralph recoiled a step or two, and h he were irresistibly impelled to express astonishment, but was determined not to do so, sat doell-acted confusion

'I have inquired at the door, Sir Mulberry, every day,' said Ralph, 'twice a day, indeed, at first-and tonight, presu upon old acquaintance, and past transactions by which we have ree, I could not resist soliciting admission to your cha forward, and allowing the saather upon his face, as the other closed his eyes

'More than enough to please h to please some broken-down hacks that you and I know of, and who lay their ruin between us, I dare say,' returned Sir Mulberry, tossing his ared his shoulders in deprecation of the intense irritation hich this had been said; for there was an aggravating, cold distinctness in his speech and rated on the sick man that he could scarcely endure it

'And what is it in these ”past transactions,” that brought you here tonight?' asked Sir Mulberry

'Nothing,' replied Ralph 'There are some bills of my lord's which need renewal; but let the rieved I ah disowned by me, should have inflicted such punishment on you as-'

'Punishment!' interposed Sir Mulberry

'I know it has been a severe one,' said Ralph, wilfullyof the interruption, 'and that has abond-that I acknowledge him as no kin of mine-and that I leave him to take his deserts fro his neck if you please I shall not interfere'

'This story that they tell ot abroad then, has it?' asked Sir Mulberry, clenching his hands and teeth

'Noised in all directions,' replied Ralph 'Every club and ga erly at his questioner 'I have not heard it s, but I have been told it's even printed-for private circulation-but that's all over town, of course'

'It's a lie!' said Sir Mulberry; 'I tell you it's all a lie The htened her,' observed Ralph, in the sahtened you, but THAT'S a lie, I know I have said that boldly-oh, a score of times! I am a peaceable man, but I can't hear folks tell that of you No, no'

When Sir Mulberry found coherent words to utter, Ralph bent forith his hand to his ear, and a face as calm as if its every line of sternness had been cast in iron

'When I a at his broken leg in the ecstasy of his passion, 'I'll have such revenge as neverhim, he has marked me for a week or two, but I'll put a rave I'll slit his nose and ears, flog hi that pattern of chastity, that pink of prudery, the delicate sister, through-'

It led in his cheeks at that ht have been that Sir Mulberry remembered, that, knave and usurer as he was, he must, in some early time of infancy, have twined his ar with his hand, confirmed the unuttered threat with a tre,' said Ralph, after a short ter which he had eyed the sufferer keenly, 'to think that the man about town, the rake, the ROUE, the rook of twenty seasons should be brought to this pass by a mere boy!'

Sir Mulberry darted a wrathful look at hiround, and his face wore no other expression than one of thoughtfulness

'A raw, slight stripling,' continued Ralph, 'against aof his skill in-I a his eyes, 'you WERE a patron of the ring once, were you not?'

The sick esture, which Ralph chose to consider as one of acquiescence

'Ha!' he said, 'I thought so That was before I knew you, but I was pretty sure I couldn't be ht and active, I suppose But those were slight advantages co outcasts have it'

'He'll need the ain,' said Sir Mulberry Hawk, 'let him fly where he will'

'Oh!' returned Ralph quickly, 'he doesn't drea your pleasure, here in London, walking the streets at noonday; carrying it off jauntily; looking for you, I swear,' said Ralph, his face darkening, and his own hatred getting the upper hand of hiay picture of Nicholas presented itself; 'if ere only citizens of a country where it could be safely done, I'd give good money to have his to tear'

As Ralph, somewhat to the surprise of his old client, vented this little piece of sound fa, Lord Frederick Verisopht looked in

'Why what in the deyvle's na about?' said the young man 'I neyver heard such an insufferable riot Croak, croak, croak Bo What has it all been about?'

'Sir Mulberry has been angry,towards the couch

'Not aboutin business, has it, Nickleby?'

'No, ree Sir Mulberry has been calling to mind the cause of-'

There was neither necessity nor opportunity for Ralph to proceed; for Sir Mulberry took up the theainst Nicholas, almost as ferociously as before