I fancied it possible--but let us go ring fancy's knell.

I'll begin it.' 'You seem disappointed,' observed Quilp.
'A baffler, Sir, a baffler, that's all,' returned Dick.

'I have entered upon a speculation which has proved a baffler; and a Being of brightness and beauty will be offered up a sacrifice at Cheggs's altar.
That's all, sir.' The dwarf eyed Richard with a sarcastic smile, but Richard, who had been taking a rather strong lunch with a friend, observed him not, and continued to deplore his fate with mournful and despondent looks.
Quilp plainly discerned that there was some secret reason for this visit and his uncommon disappointment, and, in the hope that there might be means of mischief lurking beneath it, resolved to worm it out.
He had no sooner adopted this resolution, than he conveyed as much honesty into his face as it was capable of expressing, and sympathised with Mr Swiveller exceedingly.
'I am disappointed myself,' said Quilp, 'out of mere friendly feeling for them; but you have real reasons, private reasons I have no doubt, for your disappointment, and therefore it comes heavier than mine.' 'Why, of course it does,' Dick observed, testily.
'Upon my word, I'm very sorry, very sorry.

I'm rather cast down myself.

As we are companions in adversity, shall we be companions in the surest way of forgetting it?
If you had no particular business, now, to lead you in another direction,' urged Quilp, plucking him by the sleeve and looking slyly up into his face out of the corners of his eyes, 'there is a house by the water-side where they have some of the noblest Schiedam--reputed to be smuggled, but that's between ourselves--that can be got in all the world.