In Which Mr Headstone Makes The Acquaintance Of Barnacle Junior

Mr. Headstone found Barnacle Junior singeing the calves of his legs before a fire in a comfortable room, which was handsomely furnished in the higher official manner. Young Barnacle had, not surprisingly, a youthful aspect, and the fluffiest little whisker, perhaps, that ever was seen. He had a superior eye-glass, which kept tumbling out no matter how tightly he screwed it in, and it dangled before his waistcoat clicking against the buttons with a sound that discomposed him very much. After a preliminary conversation had established beyond any measure of a doubt that Mr. Headstone had not come to discuss the question of Tonnage, Barnacle Junior put up his eye-glass and invited his visitor to take a seat and state his business. Mr. Headstone came directly to the point; which startled Barnacle Junior, as coming to the point – directly or otherwise – was not the regular practice of the Circumlocution Office, and the novelty of the circumstance caused him to stare so much that his eye-glass popped out and could not be restored without the risk of severe ocular injury. In a state of desperation, Barnacle Junior sidled up to the fireplace and rang the bell for a messenger.