Page:Cuthbert Bede--Little Mr Bouncer and Tales of College Life.djvu/47

Rh in Oxford—see Gazetteers and County Directories, passim. Henry Bouncer is my name; England is my nation; Brazenface is my dwelling place. You may have heard of me in the pages of History, although you don't seem to know me."

"Don't know you from Adam," said Mr. Blucher Boots, stolidly.

"Did you mention the name of Adam? I 'm not acquainted with that party, so can't tell if there 's any likeness between us," replied little Mr. Bouncer.

"You 're a cool card," observed Mr. Blucher. Boots, as he puffed, somewhat savagely, at his short black pipe.

"Perhaps so. I was n't born in a hurry; so I 've had time to look about me. But sitting 's as cheap as standing; so, if it 's all the same to you, I 'll sit down while we have our talkee-talkee—unless you charge for your chairs, like those fellows do in the Park; a penny to sit down on one, tuppence to put up your legs on another, and no reduction on taking a quantity."

As Mr. Blucher Boots kept silence and went on smoking, little Mr. Bouncer sat down, and said, "You could remember me, I dare say, if you chose to do so. We met; 't was in a crowd—at Fosbrooke's rooms—and I thought you had done me; I 've come, and you don't move, though your eye is upon me. I 'd my eye upon you, that night; for I dropped the best part of a fiver to you, at Van John, when you were slightly lucky in turning up aces."

"Do you mean to insinuate"began Lord Balmoral's son, with a flushed face and angry scowl.

"Oh, dear, no! don't put yourself about, and get waxy, and make yourself as red as your fez; I don't