Page 719 - bleak-house

from the almanac at last. ‘Don’t be cast down! ‘Why, sol-
diers, why—should we be melancholy, boys?’ Cheer up, my
hearty!’
The clerk having now again gone in to say that they are
still there and Mr. Tulkinghorn being heard to return with
some irascibility, ‘Let ‘em come in then!’ they pass into the
great room with the painted ceiling and find him standing
before the fire.
‘Now, you men, what do you want? Sergeant, I told you
the last time I saw you that I don’t desire your company
here.’
Sergeant replies—dashed within the last few minutes
as to his usual manner of speech, and even as to his usual
carriage—that he has received this letter, has been to Mr.
Smallweed about it, and has been referred there.
‘I have nothing to say to you,’ rejoins Mr. Tulkinghorn.
‘If you get into debt, you must pay your debts or take the
consequences. You have no occasion to come here to learn
that, I suppose?’
Sergeant is sorry to say that he is not prepared with the
money.
‘Very well! Then the other man—this man, if this is he—
must pay it for you.’
Sergeant is sorry to add that the other man is not pre-
pared with the money either.
‘Very well! Then you must pay it between you or you
must both be sued for it and both suffer. You have had the
money and must refund it. You are not to pocket other peo-
ple’s pounds, shillings, and pence and escape scot-free.’

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