'I will strike while the iron is hot,' he
said, 'and see him now.'
Jasper was lying asleep on a couch before the fire, when, having
ascended the postern-stair, and received no answer to his knock at
the door, Mr. Crisparkle gently turned the handle and looked in.
Long afterwards he had cause to remember how Jasper sprang from the
couch in a delirious state between sleeping and waking, and crying
out: 'What is the matter? Who did it?'
'It is only I, Jasper. I am sorry to have disturbed you.'
The glare of his eyes settled down into a look of recognition, and
he moved a chair or two, to make a way to the fireside.
'I was dreaming at a great rate, and am glad to be disturbed from
an indigestive after-dinner sleep. Not to mention that you are
always welcome.'
'Thank you. I am not confident,' returned Mr. Crisparkle, as he
sat himself down in the easy-chair placed for him, 'that my subject
will at first sight be quite as welcome as myself; but I am a
minister of peace, and I pursue my subject in the interests of
peace. In a word, Jasper, I want to establish peace between these
two young fellows.'
A very perplexed expression took hold of Mr. Jasper's face; a very
perplexing expression too, for Mr. Crisparkle could make nothing of
it.
'How?' was Jasper's inquiry, in a low and slow voice, after a
silence.
'For the "How" I come to you. I want to ask you to do me the great
favour and service of interposing with your nephew (I have already
interposed with Mr.
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