“We are, sir,” said the man with the carbuncle on his nose, “and shall be each of us glad to treat you to a pint in his own house in order to welcome you to Shire Car—shan’t we, neighbours?”
“Yes, in truth we shall,” said the other two.
“By Shire Car,” said I, “I suppose you mean Shire Cardigan?”
“Shire Cardigan!” said the man; “no indeed; by Shire Car is meant Carmarthenshire. Your honour has left beggarly Cardigan some way behind you. Come, your honour, come and have a pint; this is my house,” said he, pointing to one of the buildings.
“But,” said I, “I suppose if I drink at your expense you expect to drink at mine?”
“Why, we can’t say that we shall have any objection, your honour; I think we will arrange the matter in this way; we will go into my house, where we will each of us treat your honour with a pint, and for each pint we treat your honour with your honour shall treat us with one.”
“Do you mean each?” said I.
“Why, yes! your honour, for a pint amongst three would be rather a short allowance.”
“Then it would come to this,” said I, “I should receive three pints from you three, and you three would receive nine from me.”
“Just so, your honour, I see your honour is a ready reckoner.”