[ As a battering-ram against the first and second buttons
of his waistcoat. ]

[ "Hold it back!" screamed Tinker. ]

[ Over these agreeable occupations they talked. ]

[ And she paused to let the splendour of the gift sink in. ]

[ It's time these lubbers walked the plank. ]

THE ADMIRABLE TINKER

CHAPTER ONE

SIR TANCRED'S QUEST

"It is," said Lord Crosland, "deucedly odd."