Page:Marriott Watson--Galloping Dick.djvu/228

 I were notorious in the Yard. A paunch of the right sort had Jerry.”

“Ah,” I put in again, “this age is degenerate, and that’s gospel.”

The Ordinary rubbed his nose. “Rotten,” says he with decision, “all rotten, saving only yourself, Ryder, which is a rare exception.”

Now all this time I had taken little part in the conversation, being content for his tongue to wag, and still plying him with liquor. But presently, as his blood warmed, he grew louder and less deliberate in his words, and began to oscillate between his usual extremes of religion and gossip. Whereupon, seeing that my opportunity was arrived, I suddenly took my main step. For in the midst of his reminiscences of the hanging of Captain Crayes, I dashed my glass down hastily with my manacled hands.

“The Devil take us!” I cried, “but here we are guzzling verjuice when we should be floating an occasion in good liquor.”

The Ordinary looked at me, drunkenly. “True,” he said. “You have not treated me