young man, who had much skill in the art which many of his brethren
practise.

"I didn't, my fine fellow," replied Walker. "On the contrary, you--
"

"Do you mean to give me the lie?" broke out the indignant Mossrose,
who hated the agent fiercely, and did not in the least care to
conceal his hate.

In fact, it was his fixed purpose to pick a quarrel with Walker, and
to drive him, if possible, from Mr. Eglantine's shop. "Do you mean
to give me the lie, I say, Mr. Hooker Walker?"

"For Heaven's sake, Amos, hold your tongue!" exclaimed the Captain,
to whom the name of Hooker was as poison; but at this moment a
customer stepping in, Mr. Amos exchanged his ferocious aspect for a
bland grin, and Mr. Walker walked into the studio.

When in Mr. Eglantine's presence, Walker, too, was all smiles in a
minute, sank down on a settee, held out his hand to the perfumer,
and began confidentially discoursing with him.

"SUCH a dinner, Tiny my boy," said he; "such prime fellows to eat
it, too! Billingsgate, Vauxhall, Cinqbars, Buff of the Blues, and
half-a-dozen more of the best fellows in town. And what do you
think the dinner cost a head? I'll wager you'll never guess."

"Was it two guineas a head?--In course I mean without wine," said
the genteel perfumer.