.
    These were, the age, decrepitude, and weakness of Mrs. Sliderskew; the great
improbability of her having any accomplice or even acquaintance: taking into
account her secluded habits, and her long residence in such a house as Gride's;
the strong reason there was to suppose that the robbery was not the result of a
concerted plan: otherwise she would have watched an opportunity of carrying off
a sum of money; the difficulty she would be placed in when she began to think on
what she had done, and found herself incumbered with documents of whose nature
she was utterly ignorant; the comparative ease with which somebody, with a full
knowledge of her position, obtaining access to her, and working on her fears, if
necessary, might worm himself into her confidence, and obtain, under one
pretence or another, free possession of the deed. To these were added such
considerations, as the constant residence of Mr. Squeers at a long distance from
London, which rendered his association with Mrs. Sliderskew a mere masquerading
frolic, in which nobody was likely to recognise him, either at the time or
afterwards; the impossibility of Ralph's undertaking the task himself, he being
already known to her by sight; various comments on the uncommon tact and
experience of Mr. Squeers: which would make his over-reaching one old woman a
mere matter of child's play and amusement. In addition to these influences and
persuasions, Ralph drew, with his utmost skill and power, a vivid picture of the
defeat which Nicholas would sustain, should they succeed, in linking himself to
a beggar, where he expected to wed an heiress - glanced at the immeasurable
importance it must be to a man situated as Squeers, to preserve such a friend as
himself - dwelt on a long train of benefits, conferred since their first
acquaintance, when he had reported favourably of his treatment of a sickly boy
who had died under his hands (and whose death was very convenient to Ralph and
his clients, but this he did not say), and finally hinted that the fifty pounds
might be increased to seventy-five, or, in the event of very great success, even
to a hundred.
    These arguments at length concluded, Mr. Squeers crossed his legs, uncrossed
them, scratched his head, rubbed his eye, examined the palms of his hands, bit
his nails, and after exhibiting many other signs of restlessness and indecision,
asked »whether one hundred pound was the highest that Mr. Nickleby could go?«
Being answered in the affirmative, he became restless again, and,
