"
I shuddered, and rebuked him with the intelligence that I had just
lunched at the club, and should not dine till six.
Then I stated my business, curtly.
He looked at me with a stare, which I have frequently observed in
persons of limited intelligence.
"So you want to gamble away your mother's last dollar," said he.
In vain I stated and restated to him my plans. The fellow, evidently
jealous of my superior financial ability, constantly interrupted me with
ejaculations of "Pish!" "Bosh!" "Pshaw!" "No go!" and finally, with a
loud thump on a table, covered with such costly but valueless objects as
books and plates, he cried,
"What a d--d fool!"
I was glad to perceive that he began to admit my wisdom and his
stolidity. And so I told him.
"A---," said he, using my abhorred name in full, "I believe you are a
greater ass than your father was."
"Sir," said I, much displeased, "these intemperate ebullitions will
necessarily terminate our conference."
"Conference be hanged!" he rejoined. "You may as well give it up. You
are not going to get the first red cent out of me."
"Have I referred, Sir," said I, "to the inelegant coin you name?"
The creature grinned. "I shall pay your mother's income quarterly, and
do the best I can by her," he continued; "and if you want to make a
man of yourself, I'll give you a chance in the bakery with me; or Sam
Bratley will take you into his brewery; or Bob into his pork-packery.
Pages:
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89