This figure unlocked and held open the grating as for the passage of another, who presently appeared, in the form of a young man of small stature and uncommon self-importance, dressed in an obsolete and very gaudy fashion.
'Good night, noble captain,' said he with the torch.

'Farewell, commander.

Good luck, illustrious general!' In return to these compliments the other bade him hold his tongue, and keep his noise to himself, and laid upon him many similar injunctions, with great fluency of speech and sternness of manner.
'Commend me, captain, to the stricken Miggs,' returned the torch-bearer in a lower voice.

'My captain flies at higher game than Miggses.

Ha, ha, ha! My captain is an eagle, both as respects his eye and soaring wings.
My captain breaketh hearts as other bachelors break eggs at breakfast.' 'What a fool you are, Stagg!' said Mr Tappertit, stepping on the pavement of the court, and brushing from his legs the dust he had contracted in his passage upward.
'His precious limbs!' cried Stagg, clasping one of his ankles.