“I’m a plain man,” says John, “and eat a plain dinner.  I hate your kickshaws, though I keep a French cook for those who are not of my way of thinking.  I’m no egotist, look you; I’ve no prejudices; and Miss there has her bechamels and fallals according to her taste.  Captain, try the volly-vong.”

We had plenty of champagne and old madeira with dinner, and great silver tankards of porter, which those might take who chose.  Brough made especially a boast of drinking beer; and, when the ladies retired, said, “Gentlemen, Tiggins will give you an unlimited supply of wine:  there’s no stinting here;” and then laid himself down in his easy-chair and fell asleep.

“He always does so,” whispered Mr. Tidd to me.

“Get some of that yellow-sealed wine, Tiggins,” says the Captain.  “That other claret we had yesterday is loaded, and disagrees with me infernally!”

I must say I liked the yellow seal much better than Aunt Hoggarty’s Rosolio.

I soon found out what Mr. Tidd was, and what he was longing for.

“Isn’t she a glorious creature?” says he to me.

“Who, sir?” says I.

“Miss Belinda, to be sure!” cried Tidd.  “Did mortal ever look upon eyes like hers, or view a more sylph-like figure?”

“She might have a little more flesh, Mr. Tidd,” says the Captain, “and a little less eyebrow.  They look vicious, those scowling eyebrows, in a girl. Qu’en dites-vous, Mr. Titmarsh, as Miss Brough would say?”

“I think it remarkably good claret, sir,” says I.

“Egad, you’re the right sort of fellow!” says the Captain. “Volto sciolto, eh?  You respect our sleeping host yonder?”

“That I do, sir, as the first man in the city of London, and my managing director.”

“And so do I,” says Tidd; “and this day fortnight, when I’m of age, I’ll prove my confidence too.”

“As how?” says I.

“Why, sir, you must know that I come into—­ahem—­a considerable property, sir, on the 14th of July, which my father made—­in business.”

“Say at once he was a tailor, Tidd.”

“He was a tailor, sir,—­but what of that?  I’ve had a University education, and have the feelings of a gentleman; as much—­ay, perhaps, and more, than some members of an effete aristocracy.”

“Tidd, don’t be severe!” says the Captain, drinking a tenth glass.

“Well, Mr. Titmarsh, when of age I come into a considerable property; and Mr. Brough has been so good as to say he can get me twelve hundred a year for my twenty thousand pounds, and I have promised to invest them.”

“In the West Diddlesex, sir?” says I—­“in our office?”

“No, in another company, of which Mr. Brough is director, and quite as good a thing.  Mr. Brough is a very old friend of my family, sir, and he has taken a great liking to me; and he says that with my talents I ought to get into Parliament; and then—­and then! after I have laid out my patrimony, I may look to matrimony, you see!”