Page:The Princess Casamassima (London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886), Volume 1.djvu/185

 'I don't think I have a right to give you any more of a warning than that,' said our hero, smiling.

'It's very kind of you to do so much, I'm sure, and to rush in here at the small hours for the purpose. Meanwhile, in the few weeks, or months, or years, or whatever they are, that are left, you wish to put in as much enjoyment as you can squeeze, with the young ladies: that's a very natural inclination.' Then, irrelevantly, Mr. Vetch inquired, 'Do you see many foreigners?'

'Yes, I see a good many.'

'And what do you think of them?'

'Oh, all sorts of things. I rather like Englishmen better.'

'Mr. Muniment, for example?'

'I say, what do you know about him?' Hyacinth asked.

'I've seen him at Eustace's. I know that you and he are as thick as thieves.'

'He will distinguish himself some day, very much,' said Hyacinth, who was perfectly willing, and indeed very proud, to be thought a close ally of the chemist's assistant.

'Very likely—very likely. And what will he do with you?' the fiddler inquired.

Hyacinth got up; the two men looked at each other for an instant. 'Do get me two good places in the second balcony,' said Hyacinth.

Mr. Vetch replied that he would do what he could, and three days afterwards he gave the coveted order to his young friend. As he placed it in his hands he exclaimed, 'You had better put in all the fun you can, you know!'