′You don′t know that the Spottletoes are here, I suppose?′ said Mr Tigg.
′What do you mean, sir? what Spottletoes?′ asked Pecksniff, stopping abruptly on his way to the door.
′Mr and Mrs Spottletoe,′ said Chevy Slyme, Esquire, speaking aloud for the first time, and speaking very sulkily; shambling with his legs the while. ′Spottletoe married my father′s brother′s child, didn′t he? And Mrs Spottletoe is Chuzzlewit′s own niece, isn′t she? She was his favourite once. You may well ask what Spottletoes.′
′Now upon my sacred word!′ cried Mr Pecksniff, looking upwards. ′This is dreadful. The rapacity of these people is absolutely frightful!′
′It′s not only the Spottletoes either, Tigg,′ said Slyme, looking at that gentleman and speaking at Mr Pecksniff. ′Anthony Chuzzlewit and his son have got wind of it, and have come down this afternoon. I saw ′em not five minutes ago, when I was waiting round the corner.′
′Oh, Mammon, Mammon!′ cried Mr Pecksniff, smiting his forehead.
′So there,′ said Slyme, regardless of the interruption, ′are his brother and another nephew for you, already.′
′This is the whole thing, sir,′ said Mr Tigg; ′this is the point and purpose at which I was gradually arriving when my friend Slyme here, with six words, hit it full. Mr Pecksniff, now that your cousin (and Chiv′s uncle) has turned up, some steps must be taken to prevent his disappearing again; and, if possible, to counteract the influence which is exercised over him now, by this designing favourite. Everybody who is interested feels it, sir. The whole family is pouring down to this place. The time has come when individual jealousies and interests must be forgotten for a time, sir, and union must be made against the common enemy. When the common enemy is routed, you will all set up for yourselves again; every lady and gentleman who has a part in the game, will go in on their own account and bowl away, to the best of their ability, at the testator′s wicket, and nobody will be in a worse position than before. Think of it. Don′t commit yourself now. You′ll find us at the Half Moon and Seven Stars in this village, at any time, and open to any reasonable proposition. Hem! Chiv, my dear fellow, go out and see what sort of a night it is.′
Mr Slyme lost no time in disappearing, and it is to be presumed in going round the corner. Mr Tigg, planting his legs as wide apart as he could be reasonably expected by the most sanguine man to keep them, shook his head at Mr Pecksniff and smiled.
′We must not be too hard,′ he said, ′upon the little eccentricities of our friend Slyme. You saw him whisper me?′
Mr Pecksniff had seen him.
′You heard my answer, I think?′
Mr Pecksniff had heard it.
′Five shillings, eh?′ said Mr Tigg, thoughtfully. ′Ah! what an extraordinary fellow! Very moderate too!′
Mr Pecksniff made no answer.
′Five shillings!′ pursued Mr Tigg, musing; ′and to be punctually repaid next week; that′s the best of it. You heard that?′
Mr Pecksniff had not heard that.
′No! You surprise me!′ cried Tigg. ′That′s the cream of the thing sir. I never knew that man fail to redeem a promise, in my life. You′re not in want of change, are you?′
′No,′ said Mr Pecksniff, ′thank you. Not at all.′
′Just so,′ returned Mr Tigg. ′If you had been, I′d have got it for you.
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