with that cast of feature which is figuratively called a bottle-nose; and with a face covered all over with pimples. He had been a tender plant once upon a time, but from constant blowing in the fat atmosphere of funerals, had run to seed.
"Well, Tacker," said Mr. Mould, "is all ready below?"
"A beautiful show, sir," rejoined Tacker. "The horses are prouder and fresher than ever I see 'em; and toss their heads, they do, as if they knowed how much their plumes cost. One, two, three, four," said Mr. Tacker, heaping that number of black cloaks upon his left arm.
"Is Tom there, with the cake and wine?" asked Mr. Mould.
"Ready to come in at a moment's notice, sir," said Tacker.
"Then," rejoined Mr. Mould, putting up his watch, and glancing at himself in the little shaving-glass, that he might be sure his face had the right expression on it: "then I think we may proceed to business. Give me the paper of gloves, Tacker. Ah what a man he was! Ah Tacker, Tacker, what a man he was!"
Mr. Tacker, who from his great experience in the performance of funerals, would have made an excellent pantomime actor, winked at Mrs. Gamp without at all disturbing the gravity of his countenance, and followed his master into the next room.
It was a great point with Mr. Mould, and a part of his professional tact, not to seem to know the doctor—though in reality they were near neighbours, and very often, as in the present instance, worked together. So he advanced to fit on his black kid gloves as if he had never seen him in all his life; while the doctor, on his part, looked as distant and unconscious as if he had heard and read of undertakers, and had passed their shops, but had never before been brought into communication with one.
"Gloves, eh?" said the doctor. "Mr. Pecksniff, after you."
"I couldn't think of it," returned Mr. Pecksniff.
"You are very good," said the doctor, taking a pair. ""Well, sir, as I was saying—I was called up to attend that case at about half-past one o'clock. Cake and wine, eh? which is port? Thank you."
Mr. Pecksniff took some also.
"At about half-past one o'clock in the morning, sir," resumed the doctor, "I was called up to attend that case. At the first pull of the night-bell I turned out, threw up the window, and put out my head. Cloak, €h? Don't tie it too tight. That 'll do."
Mr. Pecksniff having been likewise inducted into a similar garment, the doctor resumed.
"And put out my head,—hat, eh? My good friend, that is not mine. Mr. Pecksniff, I beg your pardon, but I think we have unintentionally made an exchange. Thank you. Well, sir, I was going to tell you"—
"We are quite ready," interrupted Mould in a low voice.
"Ready, eh?" said the doctor. "Very good. Mr. Pecksniff, I'll take an opportunity of relating the rest in the coach. It's rather curious. Ready, eh? No rain, I hope?"
"Quite fair, sir," returned Mould.
"I was afraid the ground would have been wet," said the doctor, "for
