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as possible。 Was he anxious himself； I wonder； to have it
over。？as people； when death has occurred； like to press
forward the funeral； or when a parting is resolved upon；
hasten it。 It is certain that Mr。 Dobbin； having taken the
matter in hand； was most extraordinarily eager in the
conduct of it。 He urged on George the necessity of immediate
action： he showed the chances of reconciliation with
his father； which a favourable mention of his name in the
Gazette must bring about。 If need were he would go himself
and brave both the fathers in the business。 At all
events； he besought George to go through with it before
the orders came； which everybody expected； for the
departure of the regiment from England on foreign service。
Bent upon these hymeneal projects； and with the applause
and consent of Mrs。 Sedley； who did not care to
break the matter personally to her husband； Mr。 Dobbin
went to seek John Sedley at his house of call in the City；
the Tapioca Coffee…house； where； since his own offices
were shut up； and fate had overtaken him； the poor
broken…down old gentleman used to betake himself daily；
and write letters and receive them； and tie them up into
mysterious bundles； several of which he carried in the
flaps of his coat。 I don't know anything more dismal than
that business and bustle and mystery of a ruined man： those
letters from the wealthy which he shows you： those worn
greasy documents promising support and offering
condolence which he places wistfully before you； and on
which he builds his hopes of restoration and future fortune。
My beloved reader has no doubt in the course of
his experience been waylaid by many such a luckless
companion。 He takes you into the corner； he has his bundle
of papers out of his gaping coat pocket； and the tape off；
and the string in his mouth； and the favourite letters
selected and laid before you； and who does not know the
sad eager half…crazy look which he fixes on you with his
hopeless eyes？
Changed into a man of this sort； Dobbin found the
once florid； jovial； and prosperous John Sedley。 His
coat； that used to be so glossy and trim； was white at the
seams； and the buttons showed the copper。 His face had
fallen in； and was unshorn； his frill and neckcloth hung
limp under his bagging waistcoat。 When he used to treat
the boys in old days at a coffee…house； he would shout
and laugh louder than anybody there； and have all the
waiters skipping round him； it was quite painful to see
how humble and civil he was to John of the Tapioca； a
blear…eyed old attendant in dingy stockings and cracked
pumps； whose business it was to serve glasses of wafers；
and bumpers of ink in pewter； and slices of paper to the
frequenters of this dreary house of entertainment； where
nothing else seemed to be consumed。 As for William
Dobbin； whom he had tipped repeatedly in his youth； and
who had been the old gentleman's butt on a thousand
occasions； old Sedley gave his hand to him in a very
hesitating humble manner now； and called him 〃Sir。〃 A
feeling of shame and remorse took possession of William
Dobbin as the broken old man so received and addressed
him； as if he himself had been somehow guilty of the
misfortunes which had brought Sedley so low。
〃I am very glad to see you； Captain Dobbin； sir；〃 says
he； after a skulking look or two at his visitor （whose lanky
figure and military appearance caused some excitement
likewise to twinkle in the blear eyes of the waiter in the
cracked dancing pumps； and awakened the old lady in
black； who dozed among the mouldy old coffee…cups in the
bar）。 〃How is the worthy alderman； and my lady； your
excellent mother； sir？〃 He looked round at the waiter as
he said； 〃My lady；〃 as much as to say； 〃Hark ye； John； I
have friends still； and persons of rank and reputation；
too。〃 〃Are you come to do anything in my way； sir？ My
young friends Dale and Spiggot do all my business for me
now； until my new offices are ready； for I'm only here
temporarily； you know； Captain。 What can we do for you。
sir？ Will you like to take anything？〃
Dobbin； with a great deal of hesitation and stuttering；
protested that he was not in the least hungry or thirsty；
that he had no business to transact； that he only came
to ask if Mr。 Sedley was well； and to shake hands with
an old friend； and； he added； with a desperate perversion
of truth； 〃My mother is very wellthat is； she's been very
unwell； and is only waiting for the first fine day to go out
and call upon Mrs。 Sedley。 How is Mrs。 Sedley； sir？ I
hope she's quite well。〃 And here he paused； reflecting on
his own consummate hypocrisy； for the day was as fine；
and the sunshine as bright as it ever is in Coffin Court；
where the Tapioca Coffee…house is situated： and Mr。
Dobbin remembered that he had seen Mrs。 Sedley himself
only an hour before； having driven Osborne down to Fulham
in his gig； and left him there tete…a…tete with Miss Amelia。
〃My wife will be very happy to see her ladyship；〃
Sedley replied； pulling out his papers。 〃I've a very kind
letter here from your father； sir； and beg my respectful
compliments to him。 Lady D。 will find us in rather a
smaller house than we were accustomed to receive our
friends in； but it's snug； and the change of air does good
to my daughter； who was suffering in town ratheryou
remember little Emmy； sir？yes； suffering a good deal。〃
The old gentleman's eyes were wandering as he spoke； and
he was thinking of something else； as he sate thrumming
on his papers and fumbling at the worn red tape。
〃You're a military man；〃 he went on； 〃I ask you； Bill
Dobbin； could any man ever have speculated upon the
return of that Corsican scoundrel from Elba？ When the
allied sovereigns were here last year； and we gave 'em
that dinner in the City； sir； and we saw the Temple of
Concord； and the fireworks； and the Chinese bridge in
St。 James's Park； could any sensible man suppose that
peace wasn't really concluded； after we'd actually sung Te
Deum for it； sir？ I ask you； William； could I suppose that
the Emperor of Austria was a damned traitora traitor；
and nothing more？ I don't mince wordsa double…faced
infernal traitor and schemer； who meant to have his son…
in…law back all along。 And I say that the escape of Boney
from Elba was a damned imposition and plot； sir； in
which half the powers of Europe were concerned； to
bring the funds down； and to ruin this country。 That's
why I'm here； William。 That's why my name's in the
Gazette。 Why； sir？because I trusted the Emperor of
Russia and the Prince Regent。 Look here。 Look at my
papers。 Look what the funds were on the 1st of March
what the French fives were when I bought for the
count。 And what they're at now。 There was collusion； sir；
or that villain never would have escaped。 Where was the
English Commissioner who allowed him to get away？ He
ought to be shot； sirbrought to a court…martial； and
shot； by Jove。〃
〃We're going to hunt Boney out； sir；〃 Dobbin said；
rather alarmed at the fury of the old man； the veins of
whose forehead began to swell； and who sate drumming
his papers with his clenched fist。 〃We are going to hunt
him out； sirthe Duke's in