`From Pyke; and a demd, fine, pleasant, gentlemanly dog it is,' replied Mantalini. `Demnition pleasant, and a tip-top sawyer.'

`And what said he?' asked Ralph, knitting his brows.

`That it happened this way--that your nephew met him at a coffeehouse, fell upon him with the most demneble ferocity, followed him to his cab, swore he would ride home with him, if he rode upon the horse's back or hooked himself on to the horse's tail; smashed his countenance, which is a demd fine countenance in its natural state; frightened the horse, pitched out Sir Mulberry and himself, and--'

`And was killed?' interposed Ralph with gleaming eyes. `Was he? Is he dead?'

Mantalini shook his head.

`Ugh,' said Ralph, turning away. `Then he has done nothing--stay,' he added, looking round again. `He broke a leg or an arm, or put his shoulder out, or fractured his collar-bone, or ground a rib or two? His neck was saved for the halter, but he got some painful and slow-healing injury for his trouble--did he? You must have heard that, at least.'

`No,' rejoined Mantalini, shaking his head again. `Unless he was dashed into such little pieces that they blew away, he wasn't hurt, for he went off as quiet and comfortable as--as--as demnition,' said Mr Mantalini, rather at a loss for a simile.

`And what,' said Ralph, hesitating a little, `what was the cause of quarrel?'

`You are the demdest, knowing hand,' replied Mr Mantalini, in an admiring tone, `the cunningest, rummest, superlativest old fox--oh dem!--to pretend now not to know that it was the little bright-eyed niece--the softest, sweetest, prettiest--'

`Alfred!' interposed Madame Mantalini.

`She is always right,' rejoined Mr Mantalini soothingly, `and when she says it is time to go, it is time, and go she shall; and when she walks along the streets with her own tulip, the women shall say, with envy, she has got a demd fine husband; and the men shall say with rapture, he has got a demd fine wife; and they shall both be right and neither wrong, upon my life and soul--oh demmit!'

With which remarks, and many more, no less intellectual and to the purpose, Mr Mantalini kissed the fingers of his gloves to Ralph Nickleby, and drawing his lady's arm through his, led her mincingly away.

`So, so,' muttered Ralph, dropping into his chair; `this devil is loose again, and thwarting me, as he was born to do, at every turn. He told me once there should be a day of reckoning between us, sooner or later. I'll make him a true prophet, for it shall surely come.'

`Are you at home?' asked Newman, suddenly popping in his head.

`No,' replied Ralph, with equal abruptness.

Newman withdrew his head, but thrust it in again.

`You're quite sure you're not at home, are you?' said Newman.

`What does the idiot mean?' cried Ralph, testily.

`He has been waiting nearly ever since they first came in, and may have heard your voice--that's all,' said Newman, rubbing his hands.