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That was a queer fancy, wasnt it? said Mr Tappertit. It was a queer fancy, rejoined the other, breathing on his fictitious nose, and polishing it with the cuff of his coat, but he was a queer subject altogethera kind of gipsyone of the finest, stand-up men, you ever see. Ah! He told me some things that would startle you a bit, did that friend of mine, on the morning when he died. You were with him at the time, were you? said Mr Tappertit. Yes, he answered with a curious look, I was there. Oh! yes certainly, I was there. He wouldnt have gone off half as comfortable without me. I had been with three or four of his family under the same circumstances. They were all fine fellows. They must have been fond of you, remarked Mr Tappertit, looking at him sideways. I dont know that they was exactly fond of me, said Dennis, with a little hesitation, but they all had me near em when they departed. I come in for their wardrobes too. This very handkecher that you see round my neck, belonged to him that Ive been speaking ofhim as did that likeness. Mr Tappertit glanced at the article referred to, and appeared to think that the deceaseds ideas of dress were of a peculiar and by no means an expensive kind. He made no remark upon the point, however, and suffered his mysterious companion to proceed without interruption. These smalls, said Dennis, rubbing his legs; these very smalls they belonged to a friend of mine thats left off sich encumbrances for ever: this coat tooIve often walked behind this coat, in the street, and wondered whether it would ever come to me: this pair of shoes have danced a hornpipe for another man, afore my eyes, full half-a-dozen times at least: and as to my hat, he said, taking it off, and whirling it round upon his fistLord! Ive seen this hat go up Holborn on the box of a hackney-coachah, many and many a day! You dont mean to say their old wearers are all dead, I hope? said Mr Tappertit, falling a little distance from him as he spoke. Every one of em, replied Dennis. Every man Jack! There was something so very ghastly in this circumstance, and it appeared to account, in such a very strange and dismal manner, for his faded dresswhich, in this new aspect, seemed discoloured by the earth from gravesthat Mr Tappertit abruptly found he was going another way, and, stopping short, bade him good night with the utmost heartiness. As they happened to be near the Old Bailey, and Mr Dennis knew there were turnkeys in the lodge with whom he could pass the night, and discuss professional subjects of common interest among them before a rousing fire, and over a social glass, he separated from his companions without any great regret, and warmly shaking hands with Hugh, and making an early appointment for their meeting at The Boot, left them to pursue their road. Thats a strange sort of man, said Mr Tappertit, watching the hackney-coachmans hat as it went bobbing down the street. I dont know what to make of him. Why cant he have his smalls made to order, or wear live clothes at any rate? Hes a lucky man, captain, cried Hugh. I should like to have such friends as his. I hope he dont get em to make their wills, and then knock em on the head, said Mr Tappertit, musing. But come. The United B.s expect me. On!Whats the matter? I quite forgot, said Hugh, who had started at the striking of a neighbouring clock. I have somebody to see to-nightI must turn back directly. The drinking and singing put it out of my head. Its well I remembered it! |
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