'
'So it seems,' retorted Martin, who was very tired.
'Our citizens, sir,' pursued the Captain, 'intend to pay their respects
to you. You will have to hold a sort of le-vee, sir, while you're here.'
'Powers above!' cried Martin, 'I couldn't do that, my good fellow!'
'I reckon you MUST then,' said the Captain.
'Must is not a pleasant word, Captain,' urged Martin.
'Well! I didn't fix the mother language, and I can't unfix it,' said the
Captain coolly; 'else I'd make it pleasant. You must re-ceive. That's
all.'
'But why should I receive people who care as much for me as I care for
them?' asked Martin.
'Well! because I have had a muniment put up in the bar,' returned the
Captain.
'A what?' cried Martin.
'A muniment,' rejoined the Captain.
Martin looked despairingly at Mark, who informed him that the
Captain meant a written notice that Mr Chuzzlewit would receive the
Watertoasters that day, at and after two o'clock which was in effect
then hanging in the bar, as Mark, from ocular inspection of the same,
could testify.
'You wouldn't be unpop'lar, I know,' said the Captain, paring his nails.
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