Observing this, and
that the young gentleman was nearly of his own age and had in nothing
the appearance of an habitual brawler, Nicholas, impelled by such
feelings as will influence young men sometimes, felt a very strong
disposition to side with the weaker party, and so thrust himself at once
into the centre of the group, and in a more emphatic tone, perhaps, than
circumstances might seem to warrant, demanded what all that noise was
about.
'Hallo!' said one of the men from the yard, 'this is somebody in
disguise, this is.'
'Room for the eldest son of the Emperor of Roosher, gen'l'men!' cried
another fellow.
Disregarding these sallies, which were uncommonly well received, as
sallies at the expense of the best-dressed persons in a crowd usually
are, Nicholas glanced carelessly round, and addressing the young
gentleman, who had by this time picked up his slippers and thrust his
feet into them, repeated his inquiries with a courteous air.
'A mere nothing!' he replied.
At this a murmur was raised by the lookers-on, and some of the boldest
cried, 'Oh, indeed!--Wasn't it though?--Nothing, eh?--He called that
nothing, did he? Lucky for him if he found it nothing.
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