Sketches by Boz, page 489 by Charles Dickens
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er pretty little waist, and leading her gently a little way into the room, so that he might be able to shut the door, he says, so kind and soft-like--"Why, Kate," says he--'
'Here's the gentleman you want,' said Ikey, abruptly breaking off in his story, and introducing Mr. Gabriel Parsons to the crest- fallen Watkins Tottle, who at that moment entered the room. Watkins advanced with a wooden expression of passive endurance, and accepted the hand which Mr. Gabriel Parsons held out.
'I want to speak to you,' said Gabriel, with a look strongly expressive of his dislike of the company.
'This way,' replied the imprisoned one, leading the way to the front drawing-room, where rich debtors did the luxurious at the rate of a couple of guineas a day.
'Well, here I am,' said Mr. Watkins, as he sat down on the sofa; and placing the palms of his hands on his knees, anxiously glanced at his friend's countenance.
'Yes; and here you're likely to be,' said Gabriel, coolly, as he rattled the money in his unmentionable pockets, and looked out of the window.
'What's the amount with the costs?' inquired Parsons, after an awkward pause.
'Have you any money?'
'Nine and sixpence halfpenny.'
Mr. Gabriel Parsons walked up and down the room for a few seconds, before he could make up his mind to disclose the plan he had formed; he was accustomed to drive hard bargains, but was always most anxious to conceal his avarice. At length he stopped short, and said, 'Tottle, you owe me fifty pounds.'
'I do.'
'And from all I see, I infer that you are likely to owe it to me.'
'I fear I am.'
'Though you have every disposition to pay me if you could?'
'Certainly.'
'Then,' said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, 'listen: here's my proposition. You know my way of old. Accept it--yes or no--I will or I won't. I'll pay the debt and costs, and I'll lend you 10l. more (which, added to your annuity, will enable you to carry on the war well) if you'll give me your note of