 friendship and the fumes of wine, Jonas grew talkative.
    It does not follow in the case of such a person that the more talkative he
becomes, the more agreeable he is; on the contrary, his merits show to most
advantage, perhaps, in silence. Having no means, as he thought, of putting
himself on an equality with the rest, but by the assertion of that depth and
sharpness on which he had been complimented, Jonas exhibited that faculty to the
utmost; and was so deep and sharp that he lost himself in his own profundity,
and cut his fingers with his own edge-tools.
    It was especially in his way and character to exhibit his quality at his
entertainer's expense; and while he drank of his sparkling wines, and partook of
his monstrous profusion, to ridicule the extravagance which had set such costly
fare before him. Even at such a wanton board, and in such more than doubtful
company, this might have proved a disagreeable experiment, but that Tigg and
Crimple, studying to understand their man thoroughly, gave him what license he
chose: knowing that the more he took, the better for their purpose. And thus
while the blundering cheat - gull that he was, for all his cunning - thought
himself rolled up hedgehog fashion, with his sharpest points towards them, he
was, in fact, betraying all his vulnerable parts to their unwinking
watchfulness.
    Whether the two gentlemen who contributed so much to the doctor's
philosophical knowledge (by the way, the doctor slipped off quietly, after
swallowing his usual amount of wine) had had their cue distinctly from the host,
or took it from what they saw and heard, they acted their parts very well. They
solicited the honour of Jonas's better acquaintance; trusted that they would
have the pleasure of introducing him into that elevated society in which he was
so well qualified to shine; and informed him, in the most friendly manner, that
the advantages of their respective establishments were entirely at his control.
In a word, they said »Be one of us!« And Jonas said he was infinitely obliged to
them, and he would be: adding within himself, that so long as they stood treat,
there was nothing he would like better.
    After coffee, which was served in the drawing-room, there was a short
interval (mainly sustained by Pip and Wolf) of conversation; rather highly
spiced and strongly seasoned. When it flagged, Jonas took it up and showed
considerable humour in appraising the furniture; inquiring whether such an
article was paid for; what it had
