“Never heard of me before, eh?”

“No.”

“You wouldn’t be so sassy if you did,” said Blair.

“Wouldn’t I?”

“No; you know that I generally thump those that give me back slack!”

“Are you going to thump me?”

“I ought to.”

“Don’t.”

“Well, I won’t. Have a drink with me, and we’ll be friends. I’m waiting for a pal of mine, and he is a deuced long time in getting here.”

Hare knew he referred to Tony Riley.