'Yes. And to suggest,' pursued Montague, 'that surely you have friends;
indeed, I know you have; who would answer our purpose admirably, and
whom we should be delighted to receive.'
'How kind of you! You'd be delighted to receive 'em, would you?' said
Jonas, bantering.
'I give you my sacred honour, quite transported. As your friends,
observe!'
'Exactly,' said Jonas; 'as my friends, of course. You'll be very much
delighted when you get 'em, I have no doubt. And it'll be all to my
advantage, won't it?'
'It will be very much to your advantage,' answered Montague poising a
brush in each hand, and looking steadily upon him. 'It will be very much
to your advantage, I assure you.'
'And you can tell me how,' said Jonas, 'can't you?'
'SHALL I tell you how?' returned the other.
'I think you had better,' said Jonas. 'Strange things have been done
in the Assurance way before now, by strange sorts of men, and I mean to
take care of myself.'
'Chuzzlewit!' replied Montague, leaning forward, with his arms upon his
knees, and looking full into his face. 'Strange things have been done,
and are done every day; not only in our way, but in a variety of other
ways; and no one suspects them.
Pages:
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124