 knows that.«
    »You see,« said Martin, leaning his chin upon his hand, and looking at the
fire, »ornamental architecture applied to domestic purposes, can hardly fail to
be in great request in that country; for men are constantly changing their
residences there, and moving further off; and it's clear they must have houses
to live in.«
    »I should say, sir,« observed Mark, »that that's a state of things as opens
one of the jolliest look-outs for domestic architecture that ever I heerd tell
on.«
    Martin glanced at him hastily, not feeling quite free from a suspicion that
this remark implied a doubt of the successful issue of his plans. But Mr. Tapley
was eating the boiled beef and bread with such entire good faith and singleness
of purpose expressed in his visage, that he could not but be satisfied. Another
doubt arose in his mind, however, as this one disappeared. He produced the blank
cover in which the note had been enclosed, and fixing his eyes on Mark as he put
it in his hands, said,
    »Now tell me the truth. Do you know anything about that?«
    Mark turned it over and over; held it near his eyes; held it away from him
at arm's length; held it with the superscription upwards, and with the
superscription downwards; and shook his head with such a genuine expression of
astonishment at being asked the question, that Martin said, as he took it from
him again:
    »No, I see you don't. How should you? Though, indeed, your knowing about it
would not be more extraordinary than its being here. Come, Tapley,« he added,
after a moment's thought, »I'll trust you with my history, such as it is, and
then you'll see, more clearly, what sort of fortunes you would link yourself to,
if you followed me.«
    »I beg your pardon, sir,« said Mark; »but afore you enter upon it, will you
take me if I choose to go? Will you turn off me, Mark Tapley, formerly of the
Blue Dragon, as can be well recommended by Mr. Pinch, and as wants a gentleman
of your strength of mind to look up to; or will you, in climbing the ladder as
you're certain to get to the top of, take me along with you at a respectful
distance? Now, sir,« said Mark, »it's of very little
