head at him in the oddest manner, as if he were compelled against

his will to add, internally, “You know there really is so much too

much of you!”

“Well!” said Stryver, slapping the desk with his contentious

hand, opening his eyes wider, and taking a long breath, “if I

understand you, Mr. Lorry, I’ll be hanged!”

Mr. Lorry adjusted his little wig at both ears as a means

towards that end, and bit the feather of a pen.

“Dn it all, sir!” said Stryver, staring at him, “am I not

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

eligible?”

“Oh dear yes! Yes. Oh yes, you’re eligible!” said Mr. Lorry. “If

you say eligible, you are eligible.”

“Am I not prosperous?” asked Stryver.

“Oh! if you come to prosperous, you are prosperous,” said Mr.

Lorry.

“And advancing?”

“If you come to advancing, you know,” said Mr. Lorry,

delighted to be able to make another admission, “nobody can

doubt that.”

“Then what on earth is your meaning, Mr. Lorry?” demanded

Stryver, perceptibly crestfallen.

“Well! IWere you going there now?” asked Mr. Lorry.

“Straight!” said Stryver, with a plump of his fist on the desk.

“Then I think I wouldn’t, if I was you.”

“Why,” said Stryver. “Now, I’ll put you in a corner,” forensically

shaking a forefinger at him. “You are a man of business and bound

to have a reason. State your reason. Why wouldn’t you go?”

“Because,” said Mr. Lorry, “I wouldn’t go on such an object

without having some cause to believe that I should succeed.”

“Dn ME!” cried Stryver, “but this beats everything.”

Mr. Lorry glanced at the distant House, and glanced at the

angry Stryver.

“Here’s a man of businessa man of yearsa man of

experiencein a bank,” said Stryver; “and having summed up

three leading reasons for complete success, he says there’s no

reason at all! Says it with his head on!” Mr. Stryver remarked

upon the peculiarity as if it would have been infinitely less

remarkable if he had said it with his head off.

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

“When I speak of success, I speak of success with the young

lady; and when I speak of causes and reasons to make success

probable, I speak of causes and reasons that will tell as such with

the young lady. The young lady, my good sir,” said Mr. Lorry,

mildly tapping the Stryver arm, “the young lady. The young lady

goes before all.”

“Then you mean to tell me, Mr. Lorry,” said Stryver, squaring

his elbows, “that it is your deliberate opinion that the young lady

at present in question is a mincing Fool?”

“Not exactly so. I mean to tell you, Mr. Stryver,” said Mr. Lorry,