“Danged if I’ll be left out of it, sergeant; give me the shillin’?”
At this moment the portly figure of Mr. Bumpkin again appeared in the doorway!
CHAPTER XXIII.
The famous Don O’Rapley and Mr. Bumpkin spend a social evening at the “Goose.”
When Mr. Bumpkin, on this memorable evening, went into Mrs. Oldtimes’ parlour to console himself after the fatigues and troubles of the day there were a cheerful fire and a comfortable meal prepared for him. Mr. O’Rapley had promised to spend the evening with him, so that they might talk over the business of the day and the prospects of the coming trial. It was a very singular coincidence, and one that tended to cement the friendship of these two gentlemen, that their tastes both inclined to gin-and-water. And this very house, as appeared from a notice on the outside, was the “noted house for Foolman’s celebrated gin.”
But as yet Mr. O’Rapley had not arrived; so after his meal Mr. Bumpkin looked into the other room to see how Joe was getting on, for he was extremely anxious to keep his “head witness” straight. “Joe was his mainstay.”
I have already related what took place, and the song that Bumpkin sang. The statement of the head witness that he was all right, and that he was up to Mr. Sergeant, to a great extent reassured Mr. Bumpkin: although he felt, keen man that he was, that that soldier was there for the purpose of “ketchin what
young men he could to make sogers on ’em; he had ’eerd o’ sich things afore:” such were his thoughts as Mr. O’Rapley entered the apartment.
“Dear me, Mr. Bumpkin,” said that official, “how very cold it is! how are you, Mrs. Oldtimes? I haven’t seen you for an age.”
The Don always made that observation when strangers were present.