«
    »I am very glad indeed to hear it,« says Sir Leicester. »Highly creditable
to you.«
    »Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet,« returns Mr. Bucket, very seriously, »I
hope it may at one and the same time do me credit, and prove satisfactory to
all. When I depict it as a beautiful case, you see, miss,« Mr. Bucket goes on,
glancing gravely at Sir Leicester, »I mean from my point of view. As considered
from other points of view, such cases will always involve more or less
unpleasantness. Very strange things comes to our knowledge in families, miss;
bless your heart, what you would think to be phenomenons, quite.«
    Volumnia, with her innocent little scream, supposes so.
    »Aye, and even in gen-teel families, in high families, in great families,«
says Mr. Bucket, again gravely eyeing Sir Leicester aside. »I have had the
honour of being employed in high families before; and you have no idea - come,
I'll go so far as to say not even you have any idea, sir,« this to the
debilitated cousin, »what games goes on!«
    The cousin, who has been casting sofa-pillows on his head, in a prostration
of boredom, yawns, Vayli - being the used-up for very likely.
    Sir Leicester, deeming it time to dismiss the officer, here majestically
interposes with the words, Very good. Thank you! and also with a wave of his
hand, implying not only that there is an end of the discourse, but that if high
families fall into low habits they must take the consequences. »You will not
forget, officer,« he added, with condescension, »that I am at your disposal when
you please.«
    Mr. Bucket (still grave) inquires if to-morrow morning, now, would suit, in
case he should be as for'ard as he expects to be? Sir Leicester replies, »All
times are alike to me.« Mr. Bucket makes his three bows, and is withdrawing,
when a forgotten point occurs to him.
    »Might I ask, by-the-bye,« he says, in a low voice, cautiously returning,
»who posted the Reward-bill on the staircase.«
    »I ordered it to be put up there,« replies Sir Leicester.
    »Would it be considered a liberty, Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet, if I was
to ask you why?«
    »Not
