346 City Sketches, 



44 It was indeed," replied Hookem, " fortunate, I think." 



" Decidedly so," said Storks, with an experimental glance towards 

 (he lady. 



"Fort'nit," cried Mrs. Hookem. 



" Well, then," said Downey, " why can't you two knock up a part- 

 nership between you ? You're the likeliest chaps I know to make a 

 good thing of it. Storks, my hoy, I know Hookem there don't 

 take my word for it, but he is one of the rummiest one of the 

 deepest one of the keenest old files you ever came across: and, 

 Hookem, as for Storks here talk to me of men of business after 

 him ! Why, he and another came over in three ships, and two of 

 them were lost. He's a never trust me if he isn't he's a true 

 Briton, that's what he is and no mistake." 



. This eloquent eulogium could not fail to alarm the natural modesty 

 of the two subjects of it, of which modesty the reader will doubtless 

 believe each possessed a more than ordinary share. An exchange of 

 bows took place alike flattering and honourable to both. 



" Well, bang it," cried Hookem, after a pause, " what's the use of 

 my talking ? What do you say, Mr. Storks?" 



"Why, .the fact is," said Storks with a commercial air, "I am 

 rather strangely circumstanced. I have excellent opportunities 

 excellent but no capital." 



"Capital opportunities but no capital," elucidated Hookem. 



" Just so," continued Storks. " Now, if I could get a start some- 

 thing to begin with to make a show." 



" I've a hundred or two, you know," remarked Hookem. 



"My dear Sir, that would just do merely to be sunk for a fort- 

 night to be repaid out of the concern." 



Men of business habits very soon understand one another, and a 

 very short conversation sufficed to improve the project, which, on the 

 previous night, had assumed a definite shape, into perfect symmetry. 



" Now," said Downey, helping himself to another glass of whiskey 

 and water, " you understand each other, don't you? Well, mark me: 

 you two gents just toddle into Wood-street one of these mornings, 

 and there you'll see one of the sweetest places you ever looked at : 

 my wigs, such a front premises running back into the next street." 



" Just the thing for a Manchester Warehouse," said Storks, ad- 

 dressing his partner in esse. 



" The ticket," said Hookem. 



" There's a private gateway at the back, mind you," resumed 

 Downey " a private gateway." 



" Nothing can be better," said Storks decisively. 



" Why so ?" enquired the unsophisticated Hookem." 



" My dear fellow," said Storks, " can't you perceive ? The goods 

 come in at the front door, and go away at the back private secret, 

 you know : who knows where they're taken, you know ? 



" Don't you see ?" vociferated Downey. 



" Oh ! you clever creatures you," cried the delighted Mrs Hookem, 

 shaking her remarkably pretty small head, with a wicked pleasant- 

 ness, at the men of business. 



Mr. Storks acknowledged his moiety of the compliment by a self- 

 complacent but deprecating bow. 



"Do you see the joke, Sally?" cried Downey with a wink, 

 d'ye twig, eh? " 



