404 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF
wainscot ground, above the window of what, in times bygone, had been the front parlour. Thinking this an eligible place wherein to make his inquiries, Mr. Winkle stepped into the little shop where the gilt- labelled drawers and bottles were ; and finding nobody there, knocked with a half-crown on the counter, to attract the attention of anybody who might happen to be in the back parlour, which he judged to be the innermost and peculiar sanctum of the establishment, from the repetition of the word surgery on the door—painted in white letters this time, by way of taking off the sameness.
At the first knock, a sound, as of persons fencing with fire-irons, which had until now been very audible, suddenly ceased ; and at the second, a studious-looking young gentleman in green spectacles, with a very large book in his hand, glided quietly into the shop, and stepping behind the counter, requested to know the visitor's pleasure.
" I am sorry to trouble you, Sir,'* said Mr. Winkle, " but will you have the goodness to direct me to "
" Ha I ha ! ha ! " roared the studious young gentleman, throwing the large book up into the air, and catching it with great dexterity at the very moment when it threatened to smash to atoms all the bottles on the counter. " Here's a start ! "
There was, without doubt ; for Mr. Winkle was so very much asto- nished at the extraordinary behaviour of the medical gentleman, that he involuntarily retreated towards the door, and looked very much dis- turbed at his strange reception.
" What, don't you know me?" said the medical gentleman.
Mr. Winkle murmured, in reply, that he had not that pleasure.
- ' Why then;" said the medical gentleman, " there are hopes for me
yet ; I may attend half the old women in Bristol if I've decent luck. Get out, you mouldy old villain, get out." With this adjuration, which was addressed to the large book, the medical gentleman kicked the volume with remarkable agility to the further end of the shop, and pulling off his green spectacles, grinned the identical grin of Robert Sawyer, Es- quire, formerly of Guy's Hospital in the Borough, with a private resi- dence in liant-street.
- You don't mean to say you weren't down upon me!" said Mr. Bob
Sawyer, shaking Mr. Winkle's hand with friendly warmth,
" Upon my word I was not," replied Mr. Winkle, returning the pressure.
" I wonder you didn't see the name," said Bob Sawyer, calling his friend's attention to the outer door, on which, in the same white paint, were traced the words " Sawyer, late Nockemorf."
'* It never caught my eye," returned Mr. Winkle.
- ' Lord, if I had known who you were, I should have rushed out, and
caught you in my arms," said Bob Sawyer ; " but upon my life, I thought you were the King's-taxes."
" No!" said Mr. Winkle.
- I did, indeed," responded Bob Sawyer, " and I was just going to
say that I wasn't at home, but if you'd leave a message I'd be sure to give it to myself; for he don't know me, no more does the Lighting
