The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

| ——_— wre ee a mn te ee ee THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, edited Thornton begged to decline on the plea of having already satisfied his appetite, but hoped that would be no obstacle to the clerk satisfying his own. “ Why, you see, the fact is,” continued Mr. Crum- mins, “‘ that I generally dine here, but having brought this morning some lunch to the office, which has not been qvite disposed of, I am making the remainder Bupersede the necessity of my regular meal. The study of economy is one of the first things to which we in the city are called upon to pay attention.” “You alluded to some vacancy, 1 think, where it was possible my services might be found useful,” ob- served Thornton, anxious to learn the nature of the communication Crummins had promised to make. “Your recommendation perhaps——” “Would be of very little advantage to you, my young friend,” interrupted the clerk. “The matter stands simply thus: to-day there called at our office a gentleman who came to transact some business with the firm of Freeman and Jakes. As he left the little room, which is Mr. Jakes’s own, I overheard him say that he wanted a secretary or something of that kind, and that he should advertise for one in the Zimes of | to-morrow. Now directly Isaw you, it occurred to me that you would be the very one likely to suit him, and accordingly I should advise you to call upon him without delay—this very evening, if possible.” ** But do you know his address ?’’ “Oh, yes; it was entered by me into the book this morning, and I remember it exactly. Ill pencil it down for you—‘ Mr. Fitzroy Greene, Manchester Buildings, Westminster.” There—you can’t mistake —you cah say you came from Freeman and Jakes, and I dare say that will be sufficient. He haz just come inte the possession of a large estate, I believe.” “This is really very kind of you, Mr. Crummins,” said Thornton, folding up the direction and placing it in his waistcoat- pocket ; “ and an act of friendship like this to a stranger is one that, whether successful or not, will claim from me my warmest acknowledgments, I will go at once,” “ Well, let me know how it has turned out, at all events, Mr,—Mr.—by-the-by, I have not the pleasure of knowing your name,” “Thornton.” “Dear me! that’s very odd. Thornton! I have TTT S (C(O) COMIC OOO! ———— —_———-_ - —-— ~~ + —— -_ —_ - we tT