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PinkMonkey.com-Nicholas Nickelby by Charles Dickens




862

looking up into the face of Ralph Nickleby, who, lounging upon the
tall office stool, with his arms upon his knees, looked down into
his; a match for him on whatever errand he had come.

‘And how have you been?’ said Gride, feigning great interest in
Ralph’s state of health. ‘I haven’t seen you for--oh! not for--’

‘Not for a long time,’ said Ralph, with a peculiar smile,
importing that he very well knew it was not on a mere visit of
compliment that his friend had come. ‘It was a narrow chance that
you saw me now, for I had only just come up to the door as you
turned the corner.’

‘I am very lucky,’ observed Gride.
‘So men say,’ replied Ralph, drily.
The older money-lender wagged his chin and smiled, but he
originated no new remark, and they sat for some little time
without speaking. Each was looking out to take the other at a
disadvantage.

‘Come, Gride,’ said Ralph, at length; ‘what’s in the wind today?’
‘Aha! you’re a bold man, Mr Nickleby,’ cried the other,
apparently very much relieved by Ralph’s leading the way to
business. ‘Oh dear, dear, what a bold man you are!’

‘Why, you have a sleek and slinking way with you that makes
me seem so by contrast,’ returned Ralph. ‘I don’t know but that
yours may answer better, but I want the patience for it.’

‘You were born a genius, Mr Nickleby,’ said old Arthur. ‘Deep,
deep, deep. Ah!’

‘Deep enough,’ retorted Ralph, ‘to know that I shall need all the
depth I have, when men like you begin to compliment. You know I
have stood by when you fawned and flattered other people, and I
remember pretty well what that always led to.’


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