“Why, all I can say, then, you are d—nably mistaken.”
“Hullo, Bates, hullo! what does all this mean, eh? You get me to crack a bottle of wine with you, and then you turn round and abuse me.”
“No I don’t, it’s you that abuses me. Do you think for a moment you could have thousands of pounds to lend to a young rascal like that? No, no, Captain Jack; if you do think me a fool, I tell you again you are d—nably mistaken, that’s all.”
“Come, come, old man, let’s have no noisy words from you, you know you’d have been hung long ago except for me.”
“Would I? and ain’t you as thick in the mud as I am in the mire? Listen to me.”
As he spoke, he leaned across the table and whispered,
“How about that money you lost at cards t’other night?”
“What do you mean?” said Jack, reddening.
“I suppose you don’t know that Phillip Redgill has escaped from prison, do you?”
“You are a liar,” said Captain Jack, with an oath, trying to look firm and desperate; “you are a liar, Bates, and if you were not so old, and a faithful pal, I’d——”