Page:Cuthbert Bede--Little Mr Bouncer and Tales of College Life.djvu/49

Rh "I can't compliment you upon your acquaintance," sneered Mr. Blucher Boots.

"Never mind that; I don't care for empty compliments," replied little Mr. Bouncer, sticking up for his absent friend. "Verdant Green 's not at all a bad sort, though a trifle fresh—as you have found out. And, to come to the point, it seems to me that you have been taking an undue advantage of his freshness and inexperience."

"I don't know by what right you intrude into my rooms, and read me a lecture," said Mr. Blucher Boots. "But before I kick you out"

"Kick me out?" echoed Mr. Bouncer. "Two can play at that game, my beauty; and I don't think your shoemaker will ever become acquainted with my tailor." "you may as well enlighten me," continued Mr. Blucher Boots, puffing at his pipe, "as to the supposed advantage that I have taken of your friend's freshness."

"With all the pleasure in the world," said Mr. Bouncer. "You have persuaded my friend, Verdant Green, who knows nothing whatever about horse-racing, to make a book on the Derby, and you have taken his money to invest on a certain dark horse."

"What of that!" exclaimed Mr. Blucher Boots. "Though the horse is a comparative outsider, yet he 's entrusted with good money, and has some big bets written in his name. His stable companion has been backed for a good amount; but he 's the better horse of the two, and I have certain private information about him on which I can rely. I 've put a lot of money on him myself; and if I 've put your friend up to a good thing, I 've done him a kindness."

"I don't see it in that light," said Mr. Bouncer; "and,