amalmostsureIshouldhavetheadvantage,for,asyouveryproperlyobserved,“Youthwillbeserved。“’’Oh,Ididn’tmeantofight,’saidthelandlord;’IthinkIcouldbeatyouifIweretotrainalittle;butinthefightIproposeIlooksmoretothemainchancethananythingelse。IquestionwhetherhalfsomanypeoplecouldbebroughttogetherifyouweretofightwithmeasthepersonIhaveinview,orwhethertherewouldbehalfsuchopportunitiesforbetting,forIamaman,doyousee;thepersonI
wantsyoutofightwithisnotaman,buttheyoungwomanyoukeepscompanywith。’
’TheyoungwomanIkeepcompanywith,’saidI;’praywhatdoyoumean?’
’Wewillgointothebar,andhavesomething,’saidthelandlord,gettingup。’Mynieceisout,andthereisnooneinthehouse,sowecantalkthematteroverquietly。’ThereuponIfollowedhimintothebar,where,havingdrawnmeajugofale,helpedhimselfasusualtoaglassofsherry,andlightedacigar,heproceededtoexplainhimselffurther。’WhatIwantsistogetupafightbetweenamanandawoman;thereneverhasyetbeensuchathinginthering,andthemerenoiseofthematterwouldbringthousandsofpeopletogether,quiteenoughtodrinkout,forthethingshouldbeclosetomyhouse,allthebrewer’sstockofliquids,bothgoodandbad。’’But,’saidI,’youweretheotherdayboastingoftherespectabilityofyourhouse;doyouthinkthatafightbetweenamanandawomanclosetoyourestablishmentwouldaddtoitsrespectability?’’Confoundtherespectabilityofmyhouse,’saidthelandlord;’willtherespectabilityofmyhousepaythebrewer,orkeeptheroofovermyhead?No,no!whenrespectabilitywon’tkeepaman,doyousee,thebestthingistoletitgoandwander。
Onlyletmehavemyownway,andboththebrewer,myself,andeveryoneofus,willbesatisfied。Andthenthebetting-whatadealwemaymakebythebetting-andthatweshallhavealltoourselves,you,I,andtheyoungwoman;thebrewerwillhavenohandinthat。Icanmanagetoraisetenpounds,andifbyflashingthataboutIdon’tmanagetomakeahundred,callmehorse。’’Butsuppose,’saidI,’thepartyshouldlose,onwhomyousportyourmoney,evenasthebirdsdid?’’Wemustfirstmakeallright,’