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man staggered； and had nearly fallen； recovering himself； however；
he said； 'I tell you what； my fellow； if I ever meet you in this
street in a dark night； and I have a knife about me； it shall be
the worse for you； as for you； young man；' said he to me； but；
observing that the other was making towards him； he left whatever
he was about to say unfinished； and； taking to his heels； was out
of sight in a moment。
The stranger and myself walked in the direction of Cheapside； the
way in which he had been originally proceeding； he was silent for a
few moments； at length he said； 'You have really done me a great
service； and I should be ungrateful not to acknowledge it。 I am a
merchant； and a merchant's pocket…book； as you perhaps know；
contains many things of importance； but； young man；' he exclaimed；
'I think I have seen you before； I thought so at first； but where I
cannot exactly say： where was it？' I mentioned London Bridge and
the old apple…woman。 'Oh；' said he； and smiled； and there was
something peculiar in his smile； 'I remember now。 Do you
frequently sit on London Bridge？' 'Occasionally；' said I； 'that
old woman is an old friend of mine。' 'Friend？' said the stranger；
'I am glad of it； for I shall know where to find you。 At present I
am going to 'Change； time； you know； is precious to a merchant。'
We were by this time close to Cheapside。 'Farewell；' said he； 'I
shall not forget this service。 I trust we shall soon meet again。'
He then shook me by the hand and went his way。
The next day； as I was seated beside the old woman in the booth；
the stranger again made his appearance； and； after a word or two；
sat down beside me； the old woman was sometimes reading the Bible；
which she had already had two or three days in her possession； and
sometimes discoursing with me。 Our discourse rolled chiefly on
philological matters。
'What do you call bread in your language？' said I。
'You mean the language of those who bring me things to buy； or who
did； for； as I told you before； I shan't buy any more； it's no
language of mine； dear … they call bread pannam in their language。'
'Pannam！' said I； 'pannam！ evidently connected with； if not derived
from； the Latin panis； even as the word tanner； which signifieth a
sixpence； is connected with； if not derived from； the Latin tener；
which is itself connected with； if not derived from； tawno or
tawner； which； in the language of Mr。 Petulengro； signifieth a
sucking child。 Let me see； what is the term for bread in the
language of Mr。 Petulengro？ Morro； or manro； as I have sometimes
heard it called； is there not some connection between these words
and panis？ Yes； I think there is； and I should not wonder if
morro； manro； and panis were connected； perhaps derived from； the
same root； but what is that root？ I don't know … I wish I did；
though； perhaps； I should not be the happier。 Morro … manro！ I
rather think morro is the oldest form； it is easier to say morro
than manro。 Morro！ Irish； aran； Welsh； bara； English； bread。 I
can see a resemblance between all the words； and pannam too； and I
rather think that the Petulengrian word is the elder。 How odd it
would be if the language of Mr。 Petulengro should eventually turn
out to be the mother of all the languages in the world； yet it is
certain that there are some languages in which the terms for bread
have no connection with the word used by Mr。 Petulengro；
notwithstanding that those languages； in many other points； exhibit
a close affinity to the language of the horse…shoe master： for
example； bread； in Hebrew； is Laham； which assuredly exhibits
little similitude to the word used by the aforesaid Petulengro。 In
Armenian it is… '
'Zhats！' said the stranger； starting up。 'By the Patriarch and the
Three Holy Churches； this is wonderful！ How came you to know aught
of Armenian？'
CHAPTER XLVII
New acquaintance … Wired cases … Bread and wine … Armenian colonies
… Learning without money … What a language … The tide … Your foible
… Learning of the Haiks … Old proverb … Pressing invitation。
JUST as I was about to reply to the interrogation of my new…formed
acquaintance； a man with a dusky countenance； probably one of the
Lascars； or Mulattos； of whom the old woman had spoken； came up and
whispered to him； and with this man he presently departed； not
however before he had told me the place of his abode； and requested
me to visit him。
After the lapse of a few days； I called at the house which he had
indicated。 It was situated in a dark and narrow street； in the
heart of the City； at no great distance from the Bank。 I entered a
counting…room； in which a solitary clerk； with a foreign look； was
writing。 The stranger was not at home； returning the next day；
however； I met him at the door as he was about to enter； he shook
me warmly by the hand。 'I am glad to see you；' said he； 'follow
me； I was just thinking of you。' He led me through the counting…
room； to an apartment up a flight of stairs； before ascending；
however； he looked into the book in which the foreign…visaged clerk
was writing； and； seemingly not satisfied with the manner in which
he was executing his task； he gave him two or three cuffs； telling
him at the same time that he deserved crucifixion。
The apartment above stairs； to which he led me； was large； with
three windows； which opened upon the street。 The walls were hung
with wired cases； apparently containing books。 There was a table
and two or three chairs； but the principal article of furniture was
a long sofa； extending from the door by which we entered to the
farther end of the apartment。 Seating himself upon the sofa； my
new acquaintance motioned to me to sit beside him； and then；
looking me full in the face； repeated his former inquiry。 'In the
name of all that is wonderful； how came you to know aught of my
language？'
'There is nothing wonderful in that；' said I； 'we are at the
commencement of a philological age； every one studies languages；
that is； every one who is fit for nothing else； philology being the
last resource of dulness and ennui； I have got a little in advance
of the throng； by mastering the Armenian alphabet； but I foresee
the time when every unmarriageable miss； and desperate blockhead；
will likewise have acquired the letters of Mesroub； and will know
the term for bread； in Armenian； and perhaps that for wine。'
'Kini；' said my companion； and that and the other word put me in
mind of the duties of hospitality。 'Will you eat bread and drink
wine with me？'
'Willingly；' said I。 Whereupon my companion； unlocking a closet；
produced； on a silver salver； a loaf of bread； with a silver…
handled knife； and wine in a silver flask； with cups of the same
metal。 ' I hope you like my fare；' said he； after we had both
eaten and dr