abstract：`Ohdearyou,sir?Whatmayyourmeaningbe,Mr.Lorry?'`Mymeaning,'answeredthemanofbusiness,`is,ofcourse,frie

`Oh dear you, sir? What may your meaning be, Mr. Lorry?'

`My meaning,' answered the man of business, `is, of course, friendly and appreciative, and that it does you the greatest credit, and--in short, my meaning is everything you could desire. But--really, you know, Mr. Stryver ---' Mr. Lorry paused, and shook his head at him in the oddest manner, as if he were compelled against his will to add, internally, `you know there really is so much too much of you!'

`Well!' said Stryver, slapping the desk with his contentious hand, opening his eyes wider, and taking a long breath, `if I understand you, Mr. Lorry, I'll be hanged!'

Mr. Lorry adjusted his little wig at both ears as a means towards that end, and bit the feather of a pen.

`D--n it all, sir!' said Stryver, staring at him, `am I not eligible?'

`Oh dear yes! Yes. Oh yes, you're eligible!' said Mr. Lorry. `If you say eligible, you are eligible.'

`Am I not prosperous?' asked Stryver.

`Oh! if you come to prosperous, you are prosperous,' said Mr. Lorry.