'You have much too open and generous a countenance for that.'
'What an extraordinary observer you are!' said Sir Mulberry Hawk.
'Oh no, indeed, I don't see very far into things, Sir Mulberry,' replied
Mrs Nickleby, in a tone of voice which left the baronet to infer that
she saw very far indeed.
'I am quite afraid of you,' said the baronet. 'Upon my soul,' repeated
Sir Mulberry, looking round to his companions; 'I am afraid of Mrs
Nickleby. She is so immensely sharp.'
Messrs Pyke and Pluck shook their heads mysteriously, and observed
together that they had found that out long ago; upon which Mrs Nickleby
tittered, and Sir Mulberry laughed, and Pyke and Pluck roared.
'But where's my brother-in-law, Sir Mulberry?' inquired Mrs Nickleby. 'I
shouldn't be here without him. I hope he's coming.'
'Pyke,' said Sir Mulberry, taking out his toothpick and lolling back in
his chair, as if he were too lazy to invent a reply to this question.
'Where's Ralph Nickleby?'
'Pluck,' said Pyke, imitating the baronet's action, and turning the lie
over to his friend, 'where's Ralph Nickleby?'
Mr Pluck was about to return some evasive reply, when the hustle caused
by a party entering the next box seemed to attract the attention of all
four gentlemen, who exchanged glances of much meaning.
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