Do you know anything about that?'
Mark turned it over and over; held it near his eyes; held it away from
him at arm's length; held it with the superscription upwards and with
the superscription downwards; and shook his head with such a genuine
expression of astonishment at being asked the question, that Martin
said, as he took it from him again:
'No, I see you don't. How should you! Though, indeed, your knowing about
it would not be more extraordinary than its being here. Come, Tapley,'
he added, after a moment's thought, 'I'll trust you with my history,
such as it is, and then you'll see more clearly what sort of fortunes
you would link yourself to, if you followed me.'
'I beg your pardon, sir,' said Mark; 'but afore you enter upon it
will you take me if I choose to go? Will you turn off me--Mark
Tapley--formerly of the Blue Dragon, as can be well recommended by Mr
Pinch, and as wants a gentleman of your strength of mind to look up to;
or will you, in climbing the ladder as you're certain to get to the
top of, take me along with you at a respectful dutance? Now, sir,'
said Mark, 'it's of very little importance to you, I know, there's the
difficulty; but it's of very great importance to me, and will you be so
good as to consider of it?'
If this were meant as a second appeal to Martin's weak side, founded on
his observation of the effect of the first, Mr Tapley was a skillful and
shrewd observer.
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