“Gentlemen,” said the man in blue, with an air of the most consummate dandyism, “I’ll give you the ladies; come.”

“Hear, hear!” said Sam. “The young mississes.”

Here there was a loud cry of “Order,” and Mr. John Smauker, as the gentleman who had introduced Mr. Weller into that company, begged to inform him that the word he had just made use of, was unparliamentary.

“Which word was that ’ere, Sir?” inquired Sam.

“Mississes, Sir,” replied Mr. John Smauker, with an alarming frown. “We don’t recognise such distinctions here.”

“Oh, wery good,” said Sam; “then I’ll amend the obserwation and call ’em the dear creeturs, if Blazes vill allow me.”