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508 never to help him in his plots and schemes again? Isn’t it an infernal shame?’ Pyke asked Pluck whether it was not an infernal shame, and Pluck asked Pyke; but neither answered. ‘Isn’t it the truth?’ demanded Verisopht. ‘Wasn’t it so?’ ‘Wasn’t it so!’ repeated Sir Mulberry. ‘How would you have had it? How could we have got a general invitation at first sight--come when you like, go when you like, stop as long as you like, do what you like--if you, the lord, had not made yourself agreeable to the foolish mistress of the house? Do I care for this girl, except as your friend? Haven’t I been sounding your praises in her ears, and bearing her pretty sulks and peevishness all night for you? What sort of stuff do you think I’m made of? Would I do this for every man? Don’t I deserve even gratitude in return?’ ‘You’re a deyvlish good fellow,’ said the poor young lord, taking his friend’s arm. ‘Upon my life you’re a deyvlish good fellow, Hawk.’ ‘And I have done right, have I?’ demanded Sir Mulberry. ‘Quite ri-ght.’ ‘And like a poor, silly, good-natured, friendly dog as I am, eh?’ ‘Ye--es, ye--es; like a friend,’ replied the other. ‘Well then,’ replied Sir Mulberry, ‘I’m satisfied. And now let’s go and have our revenge on the German baron and the Frenchman, who cleaned you out so handsomely last night.’ With these words the friendly creature took his companion’s arm and led him away, turning half round as he did so, and bestowing a wink and a contemptuous smile on Messrs Pyke and Pluck, who, cramming their handkerchiefs into their mouths to denote their silent enjoyment of the whole proceedings, followed |