"Vell, George," said Mr. Weller senior, taking off his upper coat, and seating himself with his accustomed gravity, "how is it? All right behind, and full inside?"
"All right, old feller," replied the embarrassed gentleman.
"Is the grey mare made over to anybody?" inquired Mr. Weller, anxiously.
"Vell, that's all right," said Mr. Weller. "Coach taken care on also?"
"Con-signed in a safe quarter," replied George, wringing the heads off half a dozen shrimps, and swallowing them without any more ado.
"Wery good, wery good," said Mr. Weller. "Alvays see to the drag ven you go down hill. Is the vay-bill all clear and straight for'erd?"
"The schedule, sir," said Pell, guessing at Mr. Weller's meaning, "the schedule is as plain and satisfactory as pen and ink can make it."
Mr. Weller nodded in a manner which bespoke his inward approval of these arrangements; and then, turning to Mr. Pell, said, pointing to his friend George:
"Why," replied Mr. Pell, "he stands third on the opposed list, and I should think it would be his turn in about half an hour. I told my clerk to come over and tell us when there was a chance."
Mr. Weller surveyed the attorney from head to foot with great admiration, and said emphatically:
"Why, really," replied Mr. Pell, "you're very--. Upon my word and honour, I'm not in the habit of--. It's so very early in the morning, that, actually, I am almost--. Well, you may bring me three penn'orth of rum, my dear."
The officiating damsel, who had anticipated the order before it was given, set the glass of spirits before Pell, and retired.
"Gentlemen," said Mr. Pell, looking round upon the company, "success to your friend! I don't like to boast, gentlemen; it's not my way; but I can't help saying, that, if your friend hadn't been fortunate enough to fall into the hands that--but I won't say what I was going to say. Gentlemen, my service to you." Having emptied the glass in a twinkling, Mr. Pell smacked his lips, and looked complacently round on the assembled coachmen, who evidently regarded him as a species of divinity.
"Let me see," said the legal authority. "What was I a saying, gentlemen?"
"I think you was remarkin' as you wouldn't have no objection to another o' the same, sir," said Mr. Weller, with grave facetiousness.