“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.”
“I know how much three times three make,” said I. “Well, thank you, kindly, but I must decline your offer; I am bound on a journey.”
“Where are you bound to, master?”
“To Llandovery, but if I can find an inn a few miles farther on I shall stop there for the night.”
“Then you will put up at the ‘Pump Saint,’ master; well, you can have your three pints here and your three pipes too, and yet get there easily by seven. Come in, master, come in! If you take my advice you will think of your pint and your pipe and let all the rest go to the devil.”
“Thank you,” said I, “but I can’t accept your invitation, I must be off;” and in spite of yet more pressing solicitations I went on.