s expense, I hope?«
    »Not a bit,« said Jonas.
    »Then I hope you'll often dine with me?«
    »Ah!« said Jonas, »I don't mind. On the contrary.«
    »And I'll never attempt to talk business to you over wine, I take my oath,«
said Tigg. »Oh deep, deep, deep of you this morning! I must tell 'em that.
They're the very men to enjoy it. Pip, my good fellow, I've a splendid little
trait to tell you of my friend Chuzzlewit, who is the deepest dog I know. I give
you my sacred word of honour he is the deepest dog I know, Pip!«
    Pip swore a frightful oath that he was sure of it already; and the anecdote,
being told, was received with loud applause, as an incontestable proof of Mr.
Jonas's greatness. Pip, in a natural spirit of emulation, then related some
instances of his own depth; and Wolf, not to be left behind-hand, recited the
leading points of one or two vastly humorous articles he was then preparing.
These lucubrations, being of what he called a warm complexion, were highly
approved; and all the company agreed that they were full of point.
    »Men of the world, my dear sir,« Jobling whispered to Jonas; »thorough men
of the world! To a professional person like myself, it's quite refreshing to
come into this kind of society. It's not only agreeable - and nothing can be
more agreeable - but it's philosophically improving. It's character, my dear
sir; character!«
    It is so pleasant to find real merit appreciated, whatever its particular
walk in life may be, that the general harmony of the company was doubtless much
promoted by their knowing that the two men of the world were held in great
esteem by the upper classes of society, and by the gallant defenders of their
country in the army and navy, but particularly the former. The least of their
stories had a colonel in it; lords were as plentiful as oaths; and even the
Blood Royal ran in the muddy channel of their personal recollections.
    »Mr. Chuzzlewit didn't know him, I'm afraid,« said Wolf, in reference to a
certain personage of illustrious descent, who had previously figured in a
reminiscence.
    »No,« said Tigg. »But we must bring him into contact with this sort of
fellows.«
    »
