"You mean that you think that one of these days we shall have the police down upon us?"
"Don't you sometimes think that we can't always go on without being caught? Every day I hear of the police being down on some betting club or other."
"They've been down on a great number lately, but what can I do? We always come back to that. I haven't the health to work round from race-course to race-course as I used to. But I've got an idea, Esther. I've been thinking over things a great deal lately, and—give me my pipe—there, it's just by you. Now, hold the candle, like a good girl."
William pulled at his pipe until it was fully lighted. He threw himself on his back, and then he said—
"I've been thinking things over. The betting 'as brought us a nice bit of trade here. If we can work up the business a bit more we might, let's say in a year from now, be able to get as much for the 'ouse as we gave…. What do you think of buying a business in the country, a 'ouse doing a steady trade? I've had enough of London, the climate don't suit me as it used to. I fancy I should be much better in the country, somewhere on the South Coast. Bournemouth way, what do you think?"
Before Esther could reply William was taken with a fit of coughing, and his great broad frame was shaken as if it were so much paper.
"I'm sure," said Esther, when he had recovered himself a little, "that a good deal of your trouble comes from that pipe. It's never out of your mouth…. I feel like choking myself."
"I daresay I smoke too much…. I'm not the man I was. I can feel it plain enough. Put my pipe down and blow out the candle…. I didn't ask you how Sarah was."
"Very bad. She was half dazed and didn't tell me much."
"She didn't tell you where she had pledged the plate?"