“‘Great,’ says I. ‘I’ll go with you. I’d prefer to eat a live broiled lobster just now; but give me liberty as second choice if I can’t be in at the death.’
“Wainwright and me permeates through the town, and he halts at a rum-dispensary.
“‘Have you any money?’ he asks.
“‘I have,’ says I, fishing out my silver dollar. ‘I always go about with adequate sums of money.’
“‘Then we’ll drink,’ says Wainwright.
“‘Not me,’ says I. ‘Not any demon rum or any of its ramifications for mine. It’s one of my non-weaknesses.’
“‘It’s my failing,’ says he. ‘What’s your particular soft point?’
“‘Industry,’ says I, promptly. ‘I’m hard-working, diligent, industrious, and energetic.’
“‘My dear Mr. Trotter,’ says he, ‘surely I’ve known you long enough to tell you you are a liar. Every man must have his own particular weakness, and his own particular strength in other things. Now, you will buy me a drink of rum, and we will call on President Gomez.’”