"weighed for the leger." 67 



" It's no use," said Mr. James Sloper, in a voice husky with 

 anxiety. "It's no use," repeated he. "We have but one 

 chance j " and, clutching Puffy Doddles by an arm, he dragged 

 him away, roughly, through the crowd. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Puffy Doddles was quite sensible of being dragged roughly 

 through the crowd. His toe~ trodden upon ; his ribs punched 

 by angular elbows ; his features rubbed against by knobby sub- 

 stances ; the bow of his cravat turned directly under his left 

 ear ; his cap thrust most unbecomingly over his eyes, and his 

 jacket pulled from his shoulders to pinion him by the elbows in 

 a position of extreme helplessness, bore conclusive evidence of 

 his having been dragged roughly through the crowd. Mr.- 

 James Sloper vouchsafed no syllable of explanation for the 

 proceeding ; but, upon arriving at the weighing-room, Robert 

 Top's best lad received instructions "to strip," and scarcely was 

 this mandate responded to when he found himself, with harle- 

 quin dispatch, equipped in boots and breeches — a trifle too 

 large — and the wasp-like colours, yellow and black. 



" Quick ! " shouted Mr. James Sloper, giving Puffy Doddles 

 a push which sent him staggering back, and landing him deftly 

 — to use a piscatorial phrase — in the scale behind. 



A saddle having been placed in Puffy Doddles' lap, one or 

 two weights shifted, some dead weight, in the shape of shotted 

 cloths, added to the specific gravity of Robert Top's best lad, 

 and that important functionary, "the Clerk of the Scales," 

 announced it was " all right." 



"Weighed for the Leger," somebody or something seemed 

 to whisper to Puffy Doddles ; but, notwithstanding what he 

 saw, and felt, and knew was passing immediately around, he 



e2 



