“Your honour should be more careful handling gold,” said Jake.
“Ye might ha’ lost a piece or two,” added Nat.
“In some companies I might,” said the Colonel, looking very wise. “But I know hones’ fellows; I know how to choose my friends. Trust a cap’n o’ fortune for that.” He picked up the coins with clumsy, blundering fingers. “I thank you,” he said, and restored them to his pocket.
Jake winked at Nat, and Nat hid his face in his tankard lest the grin which he could not suppress should be perceived by the Colonel.
The pair were spending a very pleasant and profitable evening with this stray and thirsty rodomont.
They drank noisily. And noisily and repeatedly Jake smacked his lips thereafter, frowning a little as he savoured the draught.
“I don’t think it’s as good as the last,” he complained.
The Colonel picked up his own tankard with solicitude and took a pull at it.
“I have drunk better,” he boasted. “But ’sgood enough, and just the same as last. Just the same.”
“May be my fancy,” said Jake, at which his companion nodded.