"Ee, my man, take off that ridiculous expression. I congratulate you, sir—congratulate you."
And I mechanically shook hands with him. Then Radley gripped my fingers and nearly broke the knuckle-bones. Fillet also formally proffered his hand, and I pressed it quite heartily. It was no good gloating over a man when he was down.
After this ceremony all waited for Salome to clinch proceedings, which he did as offensively as possible by saying:
"Ee, bless me, my man, don't stand there idling all day. Go out at once and establish order."
I went slowly down the stairs to the entrance, and, facing the crowd, was greeted with a fire of questions: "Did you do it?" "What did he say?" "How did he take it?" "Didn't you do it?"
"No," I said, and there was a temporary silence.
"Why not? Why not?"
"Because it wasn't the thing."
While no more eloquence came to my lips, plenty flowed from those of the boys before me. For a moment their execration seemed likely to turn upon me. At last I made myself heard.
"You see," I shouted, "only cads dispute the decision of the referee."