sons grew up as parsimonious as their sire. When about twenty years of age, they commenced business at Cambridge as drapers, and they continued there until their death. The establishment of the Messrs. Jardine was the most dirty of all the shops in Cambridge. Customers seldom went in to purchase, except perhaps out of curiosity. The brothers were most disreputable-looking beings; for, although surrounded with gay apparel as their staple in trade, they wore the most filthy rags themselves. It is said that they had no bed, and, to save the expense of one, always slept on a bundle of packing-cloths under the counter. In their housekeeping they were penurious in the extreme. A joint of meat did not grace their board for twenty years. Yet when the first of the brothers died, the other, much to his surprise, found large sums of money which had been secreted even from
“There!” cried Mr. Boffin. “Even from him, you see! There was only two of ’em, and yet one of ’em hid from the other.”
Mr. Venus, who since his introduction to the French gentleman, had been stooping to peer up the chimney, had his attention recalled by the last sentence, and took the liberty of repeating it.
“Do you like it?” asked Mr. Boffin, turning suddenly.
“I beg your pardon, sir?”
“Do you like what Wegg’s been a-reading?”
Mr. Venus answered that he found it extremely interesting.
“Then come again,” said Mr. Boffin, “and hear some more. Come when you like; come the day after tomorrow, half an hour sooner. There’s plenty more; there’s no end to it.”