Mr. Lorry glanced at the distant House, and glanced at the angry Stryver.

`My meaning,' answered the man of business, `is, of course, friendly and appreciative, and that it does you the greatest credit, and--in short, my meaning is everything you could desire. But--really, you know, Mr. Stryver ---' Mr. Lorry paused, and shook his head at him in the oddest manner, as if he were compelled against his will to add, internally, `you know there really is so much too much of you!'

`Well!' said Stryver, slapping the desk with his contentious hand, opening his eyes wider, and taking a long breath, `if I understand you, Mr. Lorry, I'll be hanged!'

Mr. Lorry adjusted his little wig at both ears as a means towards that end, and bit the feather of a pen.

`D--n it all, sir!' said Stryver, staring at him, `am I not eligible?'

`Oh dear yes! Yes. Oh yes, you're eligible!' said Mr. Lorry. `If you say eligible, you are eligible.'

`Am I not prosperous?' asked Stryver.

`Oh! if you come to prosperous, you are prosperous,' said Mr. Lorry.

`And advancing?'

`If you come to advancing, you know,' said Mr. Lorry, delighted to be able to make another admission, `nobody can doubt that.'

`Then what on earth is your meaning, Mr. Lorry?' demanded Stryver, perceptibly crestfallen.

`Well! I Were you going there now?' asked Mr. Lorry. `Straight!' said Stryver, with a plump of his fist on the desk. `Then I think I wouldn't, if I was you.'

`Why?' said Stryver. `Now, I'll put you in a corner,' forensically shaking a forefinger at him. `You are a man of business and bound to have a reason. State your reason.

Why wouldn't you go?'

`Because,' said Mr. Lorry, `I wouldn't go on such an object without having some cause to believe that I should succeed.'

`D--n ME!' cried Stryver, `but this beats everything.'

Mr. Lorry glanced at the distant House, and glanced at the angry Stryver.