"but i do, and you must take my word for it. well! if you could endure to have such a worthless fellow, and a fellow of such indifferent reputation, coming and going at odd times, i should ask that i might be permitted to come and go as a privileged person here; that i might be regarded as an useless (and i would add, if it were not for the resemblance i detected between you and me, an unornamental) piece of furniture, tolerated for its old service, and taken no notice of. i doubt if i should abuse the permission. it is a hundred to one if i should avail myself of it four times in a year. it would satisfy me, i dare say, to know that i had it."