CHAPTER XXIX. HAS AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE INMATES OF THE HOUSE, TO WHICH OLIVER RESORTED

ndmyassistantwouldhavebeendelightedoranybody,I’msure,undersuchcircumstances.Dear,dear!Sounexpected!Inthesilenceofthenight,too!” Thedoctorseemedespeciallytroubledbythefactoftherobberyhavingbeenunexpected,andattemptedinthenight-timeasifitweretheestablishedcustomofgentlemeninthehousebreakingwaytotransactbusinessatnoon,andtomakeanappointment,bypost,adayortwoprevious. “Andyou,MissRose,”saidthedoctor,turningtotheyounglady,“I—” “Oh!verymuchso,indeed,”saidRose,interruptinghim“butthereisapoorcreatureupstairs,whomauntwishesyoutosee.” “Ah!tobesure,”repliedthedoctor,“sothereis.Thatwasyourhandiwork,Giles,Iunderstand.” Mr.Giles,whohadbeenfeverishlyputtingthetea-cupstorights,blushedveryred,andsaidthathehadhadthathonour. “Honour,eh?”saidthedoctor“well,Idon’tknowperhapsit’sashonourabletohitathiefinabackkitchen,astohityourmanattwelvepaces.Fancythathefiredintheair,andyou’vefoughtaduel,Giles.” Mr.Giles,whothoughtthislighttreatmentofthematteranunjustattemptatdiminishinghisglory,answeredrespectfully,thatitwasnotforthelikeofhimtojudgeaboutthatbutheratherthoughtitwasnojoketotheoppositeparty. “Gad,that’strue!”saidthedoctor.“Whereishe?Showmetheway.I’lllookinagain,asIcomedown,Mrs.Maylie.That’sthelittlewindowthathegotinat,eh?Well,Icouldn’thavebelievedit!” Talkingalltheway,hefollowedMr.Gilesupstairsandwhileheisgoingupstairs,thereadermaybeinformed,thatMr.Losberne,asurgeonintheneighbourhood,knownthroughacircuitoftenmilesroundas“thedoctor,”hadgrownfat,morefromgood-humourthanfromgoodliving:andwasaskindandhearty,andwithalaseccentricanoldbachelor,aswillbefoundinfivetimesthatspace,byanyex