“‘An elephant’s molar to a toothpick against Wolfe Tone,’ cried I.
“‘Ten pounds even that I’m nearer the mark than you,’ said Tom, with a smash of his fist upon the table.
“‘Done,’ said I,—‘done. But how are we to decide the wager?’
“‘That’s soon done,’ said he. At the same instant he sprang to his legs and called out: ‘Pat, I say, Pat, I want you to present my respects to—’
“‘No, no, I bar that; no ex parte statements. Here, Jem, do you simply tell that—’
“‘That fellow can’t deliver a message. Do come here, Pat. Just beg of—’
“‘He’ll blunder it, the confounded fool; so, Jem, do you go.’
“The two individuals thus addressed were just in the act of conveying a tray of glasses and a spiced round of beef for supper into the mess-room; and as I may remark that they fully entered into the feelings of jealousy their respective masters professed, each eyed the other with a look of very unequivocal dislike.
“‘Arrah! you needn’t be pushing me that way,’ said Pat, ‘an’ the round o’ beef in my hands.’
“‘Devil’s luck to ye, it’s the glasses you’ll be breaking with your awkward elbow!’