'What's that?' said Mr Gregsbury, in sharp accents.
Nicholas stepped forward, and bowed.
'What do you do here, sir?' asked Mr Gregsbury; 'a spy upon my privacy!
A concealed voter! You have heard my answer, sir. Pray follow the
deputation.'
'I should have done so, if I had belonged to it, but I do not,' said
Nicholas.
'Then how came you here, sir?' was the natural inquiry of Mr Gregsbury,
MP. 'And where the devil have you come from, sir?' was the question
which followed it.
'I brought this card from the General Agency Office, sir,' said
Nicholas, 'wishing to offer myself as your secretary, and understanding
that you stood in need of one.'
'That's all you have come for, is it?' said Mr Gregsbury, eyeing him in
some doubt.
Nicholas replied in the affirmative.
'You have no connection with any of those rascally papers have you?'
said Mr Gregsbury. 'You didn't get into the room, to hear what was going
forward, and put it in print, eh?'
'I have no connection, I am sorry to say, with anything at present,'
rejoined Nicholas,--politely enough, but quite at his ease.
'Oh!' said Mr Gregsbury.
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