`I found him on the wharf, sir. Being so much hurried, and you not arrived, it was necessary to do something. It fortunately occurred to me, that if I gave it him myself I could be of no further use. I should have been blown upon immediately.'

`Mr. Nadgett, you are a jewel,' said Montague, patting him on the back. `What's your lodger's name?'

`Pinch, sir. Thomas Pinch.'

Montague reflected for a little while, and then asked:

`From the country, do you know?'

`From Wiltshire, sir, he told me.'

They parted without another word. To see Mr. Nadgett's bow when Montague and he next met, and to see Mr. Montague acknowledge it, anybody might have undertaken to swear that they had never spoken to each other confidentially in all their lives.

In the meanwhile, Mr. Jonas and the doctor made themselves very comfortable up-stairs, over a bottle of the old Madeira and some sandwiches; for the doctor having been already invited to dine below at six o'clock, preferred a light repast for lunch. It was advisable, he said, in two points of view: First, as being healthy in itself. Secondly as being the better preparation for dinner.

`And you are bound for all our sakes to take particular care of your digestion, Mr. Chuzzlewit, my dear sir,' said the doctor smacking his lips after a glass of wine; `for depend upon it, it is worth preserving. It must be in admirable condition, sir; perfect chronometer-work. Otherwise your spirits could not be so remarkable. Your bosom's lord sits lightly on its throne, Mr. Chuzzlewit, as what's-his-name says in the play. I wish he said it in a play which did anything like common justice to our profession, by-the-bye. There is an apothecary in that drama, sir, which is a low thing. vulgar, sir; out of nature altogether.'

Mr. Jobling pulled out his shirt-frill of fine linen, as though he would have said, `This is what I call nature in a medical man, sir;' and looked at Jonas for an observation.

Jonas not being in a condition to pursue the subject, took up a case of lancets that was lying on the table, and opened it.

`Ah!' said the doctor, leaning back in his chair, `I always take 'em out of my pocket before I eat. My pockets are rather tight. Ha, ha, ha!'

Jonas had opened one of the shining little instruments; and was scrutinising it with a look as sharp and eager as its own bright edge.

`Good steel, doctor. Good steel. Eh?'

`Ye-es,' replied the doctor, with the faltering modesty of ownership. `one might open a vein pretty dexterously with that, Mr. Chuzzlewit.'

`It has opened a good many in its time, I suppose?' said Jonas looking at it with a growing interest.

`Not a few, my dear sir, not a few. It has been engaged in a--in a pretty good practice, I believe I may say,' replied the doctor, coughing as if the matter-of-fact were so very dry and literal that he couldn't help it. `In a petty good practice,' repeated the doctor, putting another glass of wine to his lips.

`Now, could you cut a man's throat with such a thing as this?' demanded Jonas.

`Oh certainly, certainly, if you took him in the right place,' returned the doctor. `It all depends upon that.'