“Well, he didn’t use that air word, sir—I wool say that,” said Mr. Snooks.
“In law he did, my good man—he meant it and said
it—he insinuated that you cheated the poor—you serve a good many of the poor, I think?”
“I do, sir.”
“Well, he insinuated that you cheated them by giving short weight and bad coals—that is worse than being a thief, to my mind—such a man deserves hanging.”
“Damn him,” said Snooks, “that’s it, is it?”
“That’s it, my dear sir, smooth it over as you will. I don’t want to make more of it than necessary, but we must look at it fairly and study the consequences. Now I want to ask you particularly, because we must claim special damage for this, if possible—have you lost any customers through this outrageous slander?”
“Can’t say I have, rightly, sir.”
“No, but you will—mark my words, as soon as people hear of this they will cease to deal with you. They can’t deal with you.”
“I hope not, sir.”