"'Ow many 'll yer give me?" wos the question I put to 'im.
"That's cool," sed 'e, "a billiard marker wantin' points."
"I ain't been long at the game," sed I, by way of apology.
"We want the table till seven," sed Maxwell, "to play with a friend wot's comin' to see us, so you and me 'll 'ave a game even."
"I'll try my luck," sed I, and we set to work, Morgan bein' so obligin' as to mark for us.
"Let's 'ave a bet on it," sed Maxwell.
"I'm agreeable, as fur as a shillin' goes," sed I; "it's as much as I can afford to lose."
It wos a funny game. 'E 'adn't taken 'arf-a-dozen shots afore I sor 'e wos kiddin', missin' easy shots, and makin' difficult ones, and pretendin' they wos flukes. But I could kid as well as 'im, and I don't think 'e suspected my play 'arf as much as I suspected 'is. We passed each other over and over agin; now 'e wos a'ead, now me. Morgan seemed to be amused at the game, and wos wery free with 'is remarks. At 'arf-past four Maxwell wos eighty-two, and I was twelve behind.
"Let's make it two 'undered," 'e sed, "and double the stakes."
"All right," sed I, "we ain't dabs either of us."