It appeared, on further questioning -- for it was only by a very long and arduous process that all this could be got out of Newman Noggs -- that Newman, in explanation of his shabby appearance, had represented himself as being, for certain wise and indispensable purposes connected with that intrigue, in disguise; and, being questioned how he had come to exceed his commission so far as to procure an interview, he responded, that the lady appearing willing to grant it, he considered himself bound, both in duty and gallantry, to avail himself of such a golden means of enabling Nicholas to prosecute his addresses. After these and all possible questions had been asked and answered twenty times over, they parted, undertaking to meet on the following night at half-past ten, for the purpose of fulfilling the appointment; which was for eleven o'clock.
`Things come about very strangely!' thought Nicholas, as he walked home.
`I never contemplated anything of this kind; never dreamt of the possibility of it. To know something of the life of one in whom I felt such interest;to see her in the street, to pass the house in which she lived, to meet her sometimes in her walks, to hope that a day might come when I might be in a condition to tell her of my love, this was the utmost extent of my thoughts. Now, however -- But I should be a fool, indeed, to repine at my own good fortune!'
Still, Nicholas was dissatisfied; and there was more in the dissatisfaction than mere revulsion of feeling. He was angry with the young lady for being so easily won, `because,' reasoned Nicholas, `it is not as if she knew it was I, but it might have been anybody,' -- which was certainly not pleasant.
The next moment, he was angry with himself for entertaining such thoughts, arguing that nothing but goodness could dwell in such a temple, and that the behaviour of the brothers sufficiently showed the estimation in which they held her. `The fact is, she's a mystery altogether,' said Nicholas.
This was not more satisfactory than his previous course of reflection, and only drove him out upon a new sea of speculation and conjecture, where he tossed and tumbled, in great discomfort of mind, until the clock struck ten, and the hour of meeting drew nigh.
Nicholas had dressed himself with great care, and even Newman Noggs had trimmed himself up a little; his coat presenting the phenomenon of two consecutive buttons, and the supplementary pins being inserted at tolerably regular intervals. He wore his hat, too, in the newest taste, with a pocket-handkerchief in the crown, and a twisted end of it straggling out behind after the fashion of a pigtail, though he could scarcely lay claim to the ingenuity of inventing this latter decoration, inasmuch as he was utterly unconscious of it: being in a nervous and excited condition which rendered him quite insensible to everything but the great object of the expedition.
They traversed the streets in profound silence; and after walking at a round pace for some distance, arrived in one, of a gloomy appearance and very little frequented, near the Edgeware Road.
`Number twelve,' said Newman.
`Oh!' replied Nicholas, looking about him.
`Good street?' said Newman.
`Yes,' returned Nicholas. `Rather dull.'
Newman made no answer to this remark, but, halting abruptly, planted Nicholas with his back to some area railings, and gave him to understand that he was to wait there, without moving hand or foot, until it was satisfactorily ascertained that the coast was clear. This done, Noggs limped away with great alacrity; looking over his shoulder every instant, to make quite certain that Nicholas was obeying his directions; and, ascending the steps of a house some half-dozen doors off, was lost to view.
After a short delay, he reappeared, and limping back again, halted midway, and beckoned Nicholas to follow him.
`Well?' said Nicholas, advancing towards him on tiptoe.
`All right,' replied Newman, in high glee. `All ready; nobody at home.
Couldn't be better. Ha! ha!'
With this fortifying assurance, he stole past a street-door, on which Nicholas caught a glimpse of a brass plate, with `B OBSTER ,'
in very large letters; and, stopping at the area-gate, which was open, signed to his young friend to descend.
`What the devil!' cried Nicholas, drawing back. `Are we to sneak into the kitchen, as if we came after the forks?'
`Hush!' replied Newman. `Old Bobster -- ferocious Turk. He'd kill 'em all -- box the young lady's ears -- he does -- often.'
`What!' cried Nicholas, in high wrath, `do you mean to tell me that any man would dare to box the ears of such a --'
