Say  but  one  affisctionate  word  to  me,  and  tell  me  there  is
nothing  angi-y  or  estranged  between  us,  and  I  will  detain
you  no  longer."

Good  Miss  Pross !  As  if  the  estrangement  between  them
had  come  of  any  culpability  of  hers.  As  if  Mr.  Loixy  had
not  known  it  for  a  fact,  years  ago,  in  the  quiet  corner  in
Soho,  that  this  precious  brother  had  spent  her  money  and
left  her !

He  was  saying  the  affectionate  word,  however,  with  a  far
more  grudging  condescension  and  patronage  than  he  could
have  shown  if  their  relative  merits  and  positions  had  been
reversed  (which  is  invariably  the  case,  all  the  world  over),  when
Mr.  Cruncher,  touching  him  on  the  shoulder,  hoarsely  and
unexpectedly  interposed  with  the  following  singular  question :

"  I  say  !  Might  I  ask  the  favour  ?  As  to  whether  your
name  is  John  Solomon,  or  Solomon  John  ?  ^

The  official  turned  towards  him  with  sudden  distrust.  He
had  not  previously  uttered  a  word.
