sat upright in his chair and gazed at him open-mouthed, as if the sight had taken away his breath. Quite unmoved, however, Newman left him to sip his own at leisure, or to pour it back again into the bottle if he chose, and departed; after greatly outraging the dignity of Peg Sliderskew by brushing past her in the passage without a word of apology or recognition.
Mr. Gride and his housekeeper, immediately on being left alone, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means, and discussed the arrangements which should be made for the reception of the young bride. As they were, like some other committees, extremely dull and prolix in debate, this history may pursue the footsteps of Newman Noggs, thereby combining advantage with necessity; for it would have been necessary to do so under any circumstances, and necessity has no law as all the world know.
"You've been a long time," said Ralph, when Newman returned.
"He was a long time," replied Newman.
"Bah!" cried Ralph impatiently. "Give me his note, if he gave you one; his message, if he didn't. And don't go away. I want a word with you, sir."
Newman handed in the note, and looked very virtuous and innocent while his employer broke the seal, and glanced his eye over it.
"He'll be sure to come!" muttered Ralph, as he tore it to pieces; "why of course I know he'll be sure to come. What need to say that? Noggs! Pray sir, what man was that with whom I saw you in the street last night?"
"I don't know," replied Newman.
"You had better refresh your memory, sir," said Ralph with a threatening look.
"I tell you," returned Newman boldly, " that I don't know him at all. He came here twice and asked for you. You were out. He came again. You packed him off yourself. He gave the name of Brooker."
"I know he did," said Ralph; "what then?"
"What then? Why, then he lurked about and dogged me in the street. He follows me night after night, and urges me to bring him face to face with you, as he says he has been once, and not long ago either. He wants to see you face to face, he says, and you’ll soon hear him out, he warrants."
"And what say you to that?" inquired Ralph, looking keenly at his drudge.
"That it's no business of mine, and I won't. I told him he might catch you in the street, if that was all he wanted, but no! that wouldn't do. You wouldn't hear a word there, he said. He must have you alone in a room with the door locked, where he could speak without fear, and you'd soon change your tone, and hear him patiently."
"An audacious dog!" Ralph muttered.
"That's all I know," said Newman. " I say again, I don't know what man he is. I don't believe he knows himself. You have seen him; perhaps you do."
