Mic.—­In the words of the immortal Plato, “It must be so, Cato!” But no man is without a friend when he is possessed of courage and shaving materials!  Emma, my love, fetch me my razors! (Recovers himself) sh—­sh!  We are not alone! (Gayly) Oh, Mr. Heep!  Delighted to see you, my young friend!  Ah, my dear young attorney-general, in prospective, if I had only known you when my troubles commenced, my creditors would have been a great deal better managed than they were!  You will pardon the momentary laceration of a wounded spirit, made sensitive by a recent collision with a minion of the law,—­in short, with a ribald turncock attached to the waterworks.  Emma, my love, our supply of water has been cut off.  Hope has sunk beneath the horizon!  Bring me a pint of laudanum!

Heep.—­Mr. Micawber, would you be willing to tell me the amount of your indebtedness?

Mic.—­It is only a small matter for nutriment, beef, mutton, etc., some trifle, seven and six pence ha’penny.

Heep.—­I’ll pay it for you.

Mic.—­My dear friend!  You overpower me with obligation!  Shall I admit the officer? (Turns and goes to the door, opens it.) Enter myrmidon!  Hats off, in the presence of a solvent debtor and a lady. (Heeps pays the officer and dismisses him.)

Heep.—­Now, Mr. Micawber, I suppose you have no objection to giving me your I.O.U. for the amount.

Mic.—­Certainly not.  I am always ready to put my name to any species of negotiable paper, from twenty shillings upward.  Excuse me, Heep, I’ll write it. (Goes through motion of writing it on leaf of memo, book.  Tears it out and hands it to Heep.) I suppose this is renewable on the usual term?

Heep.—­Better.  You can work it out.  I come to offer you the position of clerk in my partner’s office—­the firm of Wickfield and Heep.

Mic.—­What!  A clerk!  Emma, my love, I believe I may have no hesitation in saying something has at last turned up!

Heep.—­You will excuse me, Mrs. Micawber, but I should like to speak a few words to your husband in private.

Mrs. Mic.—­Certainly!  Wilkins, my love, go on and prosper!

Mic.—­My dear, I shall endeavor to do so to an unlimited extent!  Ah, the sun has again risen—­the clouds have passed—­the sky is clear, and another score may be begun at the butcher’s.—­Heep, precede me.  Emma, my love. Au Revoir.

(A gallant bow to Mrs. Micawber.)

* * * * *

A SCENE FROM DAVID COPPERFIELD.

  CHARACTERS.

    OLD FISHERMAN PEGGOTTY,

      HAM PEGGOTTY,

        DAVID COPPERFIELD.