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"Mr. Bucket is a detective officer, Snagsby," says tlie lawyer in explanation. " Is lie indeed, sir ? " says Mr. Snagsby, with a strong tendency in liis clump of hair to stand on end. "And if you have no real objection to accompany Mr. Bucket to the place in question," pursues the lawyer, " I shall feel obliged to you if you Avill do so." In a moment's hesitation on the part of Mr. Snagsby, Bucket dips down to the bottom of his mind. " Don't you be afraid of hurting the boy," he says. " You won't do that. It's all right as far as the boy's concerned. We shall only bring him here to ask him a question or so I want to put to him, and he'U be paid for his trouble, and sent away again. It'U be a good job for him.. I promise you, as a man, that you shall see the boy sent away all right. Don't you be afraid of hurting him ; you an't going to do that." " Very well, Mr. Tulkinghorn ! " cries Mr. Snagsby cheerfully, and re-assured, " since that's the case ." " Yes ! and lookee here, Mr. Snagsby," resumes Bucket, taking him aside by the arm, tapping him familiarly on the breast, and speaking in a confidential tone. " You're a man of the world, you know, and a man of business, and a man of sense. That*s what you are." " I am sure I am much obliged to you for your good opinion," retunis the stationer, Avitli his cough of modesty, " but " " That's what you are, you know," says Bucket. " Now, it an't necessary to say to a man like you, engaged in your business, which is a business of trust and requires a person to be wide awake and have his senses about him, and his head screwed on tight (I had an uncle in youi* business once) — it an't necessary to say to a man like you, that it's the best and wisest way to keep little matters Hke this quiet. Don't you see ? Qiuet 1 " " Certainly, certainly," returns the stationer. " I don't mind teUing yow," says Bucket, with an engaging appearance of frankness, " that, as far as I can understand it, there seems to be a doubt whether this dead person wasn't entitled to a little property, and whether this female hasn't been up to some games respecting that property, don't you see ! " " O !" says Mr. Snagsby, but not appearing to see quite distinctly. " Now, what you want," pursues Bucket, again tapping Mr. Snagsby on the breast in a comfortable and soothing manner, " is, that every person should have their rights according to justice. That's what you want." . " To be sure," returns Mr. Snagsby with a nod. " On account of which, and at the same time to oblige a — do you call it, in your business, customer or client ? I forget how my micle used to caU It." " Why, I generally say customer myself," replies Mr. Snagsby. " You're right ! " returns Mr. Bucket, shaking hands with him qidte affectionately, — " on account of which, and at the same time to oblige a real good customer, you mean to go down with me, in confidence, to Tom-all-Alone's, and to keep the whole thing quiet ever afterwards and never mention it to any one. That's about your intentions, if I understand you ? " " You are right, sir. You are right," says Mr. Snagsby.