'Ah, well,' interrupted Mr. Puffington, who was still eager about his
mission, 'we'll talk about that after. At present I'm come to tell you,'
continued he, holding up Mr. Sponge's note, 'that we must brush up a
little--going to have a visit of inspection from the great Mr. Sponge.'
'Indeed, sir!' replied Mr. Bragg, with the slightest possible touch of his
cap, which he still kept on. 'Mr. Sponge, sir!--indeed, sir--Mr. Sponge,
sir--pray who may _he_ be, sir?'
'Oh--why--hay--hum--haw--he's Mr. Sponge, you know--been hunting with Lord
Scamperdale, you know--great sportsman, in fact--great authority, you
know.' 'Indeed--great authority is he--indeed--oh--yes--thinks so
p'raps--sc-e-e-use me, sir, but des-say, sir, I've forgot more, sir, than
Mr. Sponge ever knew, sir.'
'Well, but you mustn't tell him so,' observed Mr. Puffington, fearful that
Bragg might spoil sport.
'Oh, tell him--no,' sneered Bragg, with a jerk of the head; 'tell him--no;
I'm not exactly such a donkey as that; on the contrary, I'll make things
pleasant, sir--sugar his milk for him, sir, in short, sir.
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