I could not help smiling, for it seemed that everybody was to begin by saying, "What, YOU here!" "Your name is Cox, sir ?" says he; smiling too, as the very pattern of mine.
"My name, sir, is Sharpus,--Blunt, Hone and Sharpus, Middle Temple Lane,--and I am proud to salute you, sir; happy,--that is to say, sorry to say that Mr.Tuggeridge, of Portland Place, is dead, and your lady is heiress, in consequence, to one of the handsomest properties in the kingdom." At this I started, and might have sunk to the ground, but for my hold of Mr.Bar's nose; Orlando seemed putrified to stone, with his irons fixed to Mr.Hock's head; our respective patients gave a wince out:--Mrs.C., Jemimarann, and Tug, rushed from the back shop, and we formed a splendid tableau such as the great Cruikshank might have depicted.
"And Mr.John Tuggeridge, sir ?" says I.
"Why--hee, hee, hee!" says Mr.Sharpus.

"Surely you know that he was only the--hee, hee, hee!--the natural son!" You now can understand why the servants from Portland Place had been so eager to come to us.

One of the house-maids heard Mr.Sharpus say there was no will, and that my wife was heir to the property, and not Mr.John Tuggeridge: this she told in the housekeeper's room; and off, as soon as they heard it, the whole party set, in order to be the first to bear the news.
We kept them, every one in their old places; for, though my wife would have sent them about their business, my dear Jemimarann just hinted, "Mamma, you know THEY have been used to great houses, and we have not; had we not better keep them for a little ?"--Keep them, then, we did, to show us how to be gentlefolks.
I handed over the business to Mr.Crump without a single farthing of premium, though Jemmy would have made me take four hundred pounds for it; but this I was above: Crump had served me faithfully, and have the shop he should.
FIRST ROUT.
We were speedily installed in our fine house: but what's a house without friends?
Jemmy made me CUT all my old acquaintances in the Market, and I was a solitary being; when, luckily, an old acquaintance of ours, Captain Tagrag, was so kind as to promise to introduce us into distinguished society.

Tagrag was the son of a baronet, and had done us the honor of lodging with us for two years; when we lost sight of him, and of his little account, too, by the way.

A fortnight after, hearing of our good fortune, he was among us again, however; and Jemmy was not a little glad to see him, knowing him to be a baronet's son, and very fond of our Jemimarann.