“That will do. I 'm your debtor, now, and without misgivings. I want to see young Heathcote as soon as I can. Would I find him at home now?”
“I 'll get him over here to dine with us. We 'll have a jolly evening together, and drink a boundless success to the Boundary Commissioner. If I don't mistake, too, there 's another good fellow here would like to be one of us.”
“Another! who can he be?”
“Here he comes to answer for himself.” And, as he spoke, Quackinboss lounged into the room, with his hands deep in his trousers-pockets, and his hat on his head.
“Well, sir, I hope I see you in good health,” said he to Agincourt. “You've grown a bit since we met last, and you ain't so washy-lookin' as you used to be.”
“Thanks. I 'm all right in health, and very glad to see you, besides. Is not my friend here an old acquaintance of yours,—the O'Shea?”
“The O'Shea,” said Quackinboss, slowly, laying great stress upon the definite article.
“The O'Shea! Yes, sir.”
“You may remember that we met at Lucca some time back,” said O'Shea, who felt that the moment was embarrassing and unpleasant.
“Yes, sir. 'The Shaver' recollects you,” said he, in a slow, drawling tone; “and if I ain't mortal mistaken, there's a little matter of account unsettled between us.”