“Yes,” said I, “I am very much in want of employ.”
“I think I can find you some.”
“What kind?” said I.
“Why,” said the man, “I think you would do to be my bonnet.”
“Bonnet!” said I, “what is that?”
“Don’t you know? However, no wonder, as you had never heard of the thimble-and-pea game, but I will tell you. We of the game are very much exposed; folks when they have lost their money, as those who play with us mostly do, sometimes uses rough language, calls us cheats, and sometimes knocks our hats over our eyes; and what’s more, with a kick under our table, causes the top deals to fly off; this is the third table I have used this day, the other two being broken by uncivil customers: so we of the game generally like to have gentlemen go about with us to take our part, and encourage us, though pretending to know nothing about us; for example, when the customer says, ‘I’m cheated,’ the bonnet must say, ‘No, you a’n’t, it is all right;’ or, when my hat is knocked over my eyes, the bonnet must square and say, ‘I never saw the man before in all my life, but I won’t see him ill-used;’ and so, when they kicks at the table, the bonnet must say, ‘I won’t see the table ill-used, such a nice table too; besides, I want to play myself;’ and then I would say to the bonnet, ‘Thank you, my lord, them that finds, wins;’ and then the bonnet plays, and I lets the bonnet win.”
“In a word,” said I, “the bonnet means the man who covers you, even as the real bonnet covers the head.”
“Just so,” said the man, “I see you are awake, and would soon make a first-rate bonnet.”
“Bonnet,” said I, musingly; “bonnet; it is metaphorical.”
“Is it?” said the man.