“Tell him to seek lodgings elsewhere in the village, landlord!”
“He shan’t sleep with me,” growled Bates, “whoever he is.”
“You needn’t put yourself out of temper, friend,” said the stranger, entering in a free and easy manner. “You needn’t put yourself into any flurry, for I wouldn’t have such an ugly-looking bed-fellow for all the gold in England.”
As he said this he cut Bates across the shoulders with his riding-whip.
“Hillo, what means this?” said Bates, spluttering with rage, “I say, my fine, dandy gentleman, do you know who you’re cutting about the shoulders with your riding-whip? Take no such liberties, young man, or you may repent of it.”
“Tut, tut, man, you don’t know how to stand a joke.”
“That’s no joke, as you’ll quickly find, if you’re not very civil,” growled Bates, puffing his pipe.
“This parlour is engaged,” said Captain Jack.
“I see it is,” the stranger said, coolly.
“The beds are all engaged.”