“Oh, Jerusalem—will she, though?”
Peace nodded significantly.
“I give in to you, Charlie,” said Bill, “you’ve had more experience with women and such like than I have by a long way. I confess they’ve generally proved too much for me.”
“I’ll take good care they don’t get the better of me—not if I can help it,” remarked our hero; “but let’s drop this—I’m sick of it. We will talk about other matters. How fares it with you? Have you managed to keep dark?”
“As dark as the old gentleman himself. Not a blessed crusher has been at my heels. I’ve dodged them to rights; but I say, Charlie, old man, you’ve got a jolly comfortable little crib here, snug, quiet, and everything you can desire.”
“It would be comfortable enough if it wasn’t for anxiety of mind. That ’ud knock over any man.”
“Anxiety of mind?”
“Yes. Well, you see, Bill, these women are almost more than I can manage. To a certain extent they have me in their power, and they know it.”
“I see—might round upon you at any moment?”
“If they felt disposed to do so of course they could.”