Perkins was off on the wings of love, to see Miss Lucy; and she and Aunt Biggs and Uncle Crampton had promised this very day to come and look at the apartments which Mrs.John Perkins was to occupy with her happy husband.
"Poor devil," so continued Mr.Scully's meditations, "it is almost too bad to do him out of his place; but my Bob wants it, and John's girl has, I hear, seven thousand pounds.His uncle will get him another place before all that money is spent." And herewith Mr.Scully began conning the speech which Perkins had made for him.
He had not read it more than six times,--in truth, he was getting it by heart,--when his head clerk came to him from the front room, bearing a card: a footman had brought it, who said his lady was waiting below.Lady Gorgon's name was on the card! To seize his hat and rush downstairs was, with Mr.Scully, the work of an infinitesimal portion of time.
It was indeed Lady Gorgon in her Gorgonian chariot.
"Mr.Scully," said she, popping her head out of window and smiling in a most engaging way, "I want to speak to you, on something very particular INDEED"--and she held him out her hand.Scully pressed it most tenderly: he hoped all heads in Bedford Row were at the windows to see him."I can't ask you into the carriage, for you see the governess is with me, and I want to talk secrets to you.""Shall I go and make a little promenade?" said mademoiselle, innocently.And her mistress hated her for that speech.
"No.Mr.Scully, I am sure, will let me come in for five minutes?"Mr.Scully was only too happy.My Lady descended and walked upstairs, leaning on the happy solicitor's arm.But how should he manage? The front room was consecrated to clerks; there were clerks too, as ill-luck would have it, in his private room."Perkins is out for the day," thought Scully; "I will take her into his room."And into Perkins's room he took her--ay, and he shut the double doors after him too, and trembled as he thought of his own happiness.