and I am acquainted with him,« Mr. Guppy retorts.
»Well, sir! I have lately become better acquainted with him, through some
accidental circumstances that have made me a visitor of his in private life.
Those circumstances it is not necessary to offer in argument. They may - or they
may not - have some reference to a subject, which may - or may not - have cast
its shadow on my existence.«
    As it is Mr. Guppy's perplexing way, with boastful misery to tempt his
particular friends into this subject, and the moment they touch it, to turn on
them with that trenchant severity about the chords in the human mind; both Mr.
Jobling and Mr. Smallweed decline the pitfall, by remaining silent.
    »Such things may be,« repeats Mr. Guppy, »or they may not be. They are no
part of the case. It is enough to mention, that both Mr. and Mrs. Snagsby are
very willing to oblige me; and that Snagsby has, in busy times, a good deal of
copying work to give out. He has all Tulkinghorn's, and an excellent business
besides. I believe, if our mutual friend Smallweed were put into the box, he
could prove this?«
    Mr. Smallweed nods, and appears greedy to be sworn.
    »Now, gentlemen of the jury,« says Mr. Guppy, »- I mean, now Jobling - you
may say this is a poor prospect of a living. Granted. But it's better than
nothing, and better than enlistment. You want time. There must be time for these
late affairs to blow over. You might live through it on much worse terms than by
writing for Snagsby.«
    Mr. Jobling is about to interrupt, when the sagacious Smallweed checks him
with a dry cough, and the words, »Hem! Shakspeare!«
    »There are two branches to this subject, Jobling,« says Mr. Guppy. »That is
the first. I come to the second. You know Krook, the Chancellor, across the
lane. Come, Jobling,« says Mr. Guppy, in his encouraging cross-examination-tone,
»I think you know Krook, the Chancellor, across the lane?«
    »I know him by sight,« says Mr. Jobling.
    »You know him by sight. Very well. And you know little Flite?«
    »Everybody knows her,« says Mr. Jobling.
    »Everybody knows her. Very well. Now it has been one of my duties