 reply with his
cough of general propitiation, »that I no more know where he came from than I
know -«
    »Where he has gone to, perhaps,« suggests the surgeon, to help him out.
    A pause. Mr. Tulkinghorn looking at the law-stationer. Mr. Krook, with his
mouth open, looking for somebody to speak next.
    »As to his connexions, sir,« says Mr. Snagsby, »if a person was to say to
me, Snagsby, here's twenty thousand pound down, ready for you in the Bank of
England, if you'll only name one of 'em, I couldn't do it, sir! About a year and
a half ago - to the best of my belief at the time when he first came to lodge at
the present rag and bottle shop -«
    »That was the time!« says Krook, with a nod.
    »About a year and a half ago,« says Mr. Snagsby, strengthened, »he came into
our place one morning after breakfast, and, finding my little woman (which I
name Mrs. Snagsby when I use that appellation) in our shop, produced a specimen
of his handwriting, and gave her to understand that he was in want of copying
work to do, and was - not to put too fine a point upon it -« a favourite apology
for plain-speaking with Mr. Snagsby, which he always offers with a sort of
argumentative frankness, »hard up! My little woman is not in general partial to
strangers, particular - not to put too fine a point upon it - when they want
anything. But she was rather took by something about this person; whether by his
being unshaved, or by his hair being in want of attention, or by what other
ladies' reasons, I leave you to judge; and she accepted of the specimen, and
likewise of the address. My little woman hasn't a good ear for names,« proceeds
Mr. Snagsby, after consulting his cough of consideration behind his hand, »and
she considered Nemo equally the same as Nimrod. In consequence of which, she got
into a habit of saying to me at meals, Mr. Snagsby, you haven't found Nimrod any
work yet! or Mr. Snagsby, why didn't you give that eight-and-thirty Chancery
folio in Jarndyce, to Nimrod? or such like. And that is the way he gradually
fell into job-work at our place; and that is the most I know of
