Mr. Nadgett withdrew to the stove in which there was a small fire for the convenience of heating curling-irons; and taking advantage of so favourable an opportunity for drying his pocket-handkerchief, produced it without loss of time. There he stood, during the whole interview, holding it before the bars, and sometimes, but not often, glancing over his shoulder.
"My dear Chuzzlewit!" cried Montague, as Jonas entered: "you rise with the lark. Though you go to bed with the nightingale, you rise with the lark. You have superhuman energy, my dear Chuzzlewit!"
"Ecod!" said Jonas, with an air of languor and ill-humour, as he took a chair, "I should be very glad not to get up with the lark, if I could help it. But I am a light sleeper; and it's better to be up, than lying awake, counting the dismal old church-clocks, in bed."
"A light sleeper!" cried his friend. "Now, what is a light sleeper? I often hear the expression, but upon my life I have not the least conception what a light sleeper is."
"Hallo!" said Jonas, "Who's that? Oh, old what's-his-name: looking (as usual) as if he wanted to skulk up the chimney."
"Ha, ha! I have no doubt he does."
"Well! He's not wanted here, I suppose. He may go, mayn't he?"
"Oh, let him stay, let him stay!" said Tigg. "He's a mere piece of furniture. He has been making his report, and is waiting for further orders. He has been told," said Tigg, raising his voice, "not to lose sight of certain friends of ours, or to think that he has done with them by any means. He understands his business."
"He need," replied Jonas: "for of all the precious old dummies in appearance that ever I saw, he's about the worst. He's afraid of me, I think."
"It's my belief," said Tigg, "that you are Poison to him. Nadgett! give me that towel!"
He had as little occasion for a towel as Jonas had for a start. But Nadgett brought it quickly; and, having lingered for a moment, fell back upon his old post by the fire.
"You see, my dear fellow," resumed Tigg, "you are toowhat's the matter with your lips? How white they are!"
"I took some vinegar just now," said Jonas. "I had oysters for my breakfast. Where are they white!" he added, muttering an oath, and rubbing them upon his handkerchief. "I don't believe they are white."
"Now I look again, they are not," replied his friend. "They are coming right again."
"Say what you were going to say," cried Jonas, angrily, "and let my face be! As long as I can shew my teeth when I want to (and I can do that pretty well), the colour of my lips is not material."
"Quite true," said Tigg! "I was only going to say that you are too quick and active for our friend. He is too shy to cope with such a man as you, but does his duty well. Oh very well! But what is a light sleeper?"
"Hang a light sleeper!" exclaimed Jonas, pettishly.
"No, no," interrupted Tigg. "No. We 'll not do that."
