"If I can't make sport, I shan't spoil none," said Poppins.
"Well, Jones was there. Jones was with Brisket, and Jones told him that if he'd come forward now he should have a hundred down, and a promise from the firm for the rest of it."
"Then Jones is a scoundrel."
"I don't know about that," said Mrs. Poppins. "Maryanne is his wife's sister, and he's bound to do the best he can by her. Brisket is a deal steadier man than Georgy Robinson, and won't have to look for his bread so soon, I'm thinking."
"He hasn't half the brains," said Poppins.
"Brains is like soft words; they won't butter no parsnips."
"And you've been with Brisket?" said the husband.
"Yes; why not? Brisket and I was always friends. I'm not going to quarrel with Brisket because Georgy Robinson is afraid of him. I knew how it would be with Robinson when he didn't stand up to Brisket that night at the Hall of Harmony. What's a man worth if he won't stand up for his young woman? If you hadn't stood up for me I wouldn't have had you." And so ended that conversation.
"A hundred pounds down?" said Brisket to Jones the next day.
"Yes, and our bill for the remainder."