"One pinch is more than enough, Ancient."
"Oh, Peter, 'tis a wonnerful thing as you should be alive this day!"
"And yet, Ancient, many a man has fought the devil before now and lived—nay, has been the better for it."
"Maybe, Peter, maybe, but not on sech a tur'ble wild night as last night was." Saying which, the old man nodded emphatically and, rising, hobbled to the door; yet there he turned and came back again. "I nigh forgot, Peter, I have noos for ye."
"News?"
"Noos as ever was—noos as'll surprise ye, Peter."
"Well?" I inquired.
"Well, Peter, Black Jarge be 'took' again."
"What?" I exclaimed.
"Oh! I knowed 'twould come—I knowed 'e couldn't last much longer. I says to Simon, day afore yesterday it were, 'Simon,' I says, 'mark my words, 'e'll never last the month out—no.'"