“‘You seem a trifle hipped,’ I said; ‘take a glass of wine.’
“‘I am just a wee bit low,’ he said; ‘what wi’ the bad weather, the dull times’—
“‘And the robberies you’ve lately had about here,’ I suggested.
“‘Ah, weel, they’re nae calculated to raise one’s sperits. Good health to you, gentlemen!’
“We thanked him and I filled his glass again.
“‘This house,’ said Toole, ‘is rather a lonely place; you don’t have many guests staying here?’
“‘Not at this time o’ the year,’ he replied; ‘only just chance customers.’
“I filled his glass again before he went for the cheese. When he came back I took up a fork, and expressed some surprise that his master should, in these thieving days, entrust his guests with real silver plate.
“‘I dinna bring it oot for everybody,’ he replied; ‘but for a pairty o’ gentlemen like yoursels, it’s a defferent thing.’