“Oh dear, no; I’m not well off,” said Max.
“Hey?”
“I say I’m not well off,” said Max, more loudly.
“That’s a pity,” said the old fellow. “Never mind, I’ll have another glass, all the same. Fill it full this time.”
Max shut his teeth with a snap, but he filled the glass brimming full, and then restopped the decanter.
“So you’re not well off, hey?” said Hopper.
“Very, very short,” said Max, with his mouth close to his visitor’s ear.
“Humph! Sorry to hear it, because I want to borrow five pounds of you,” said Hopper. “You’ve got that, I suppose?”
“Indeed, no. I’m very sorry,” began Max.
“So am I,” said the old fellow shortly. “Hah, Max Shingle, how you’d have liked to stick a dose of poison in that wine, wouldn’t you?”