"I smell more than that," said Bill; "and by the way, I'll thank you to give me the windy side of you—curse all sulphur, I say. There, that's what I call an improvement in my condition. But as you are so stiff," says Bill, "why, the short and long of it is—that—hem—you see I'm—tut—sure you know I have a thriving trade of my own, and that if I like I needn't be at a loss; but in the meantime I'm rather in a kind of a so—so—don't you take?"
And Bill winked knowingly, hoping to trick him into the first proposal.
"You must speak above-board, my friend," says the other. "I'm a man of few words, blunt and honest. If you have anything to say, be plain. Don't think I can be losing my time with such a pitiful rascal as you are."
"Well," says Bill, "I want money, then, and am ready to come into terms. What have you to say to that, Nick?"
"Let me see—let me look at you," says his companion, turning him about. "Now, Bill, in the first place, are you not as finished a scare-crow as ever stood upon two legs?"
"I play second fiddle to you there again," says Bill.
"There you stand, with the blackguards' coat of arms quartered under your eye, and——"
"Don't make little of blackguards," said Bill, "nor spake disparagingly of your own crest."
"Why, what would you bring, you brazen rascal, if you were fairly put up at auction?"
"Faith, I'd bring more bidders than you would," said Bill, "if you were to go off at auction to-morrow. I tell you they should bid downwards to come to your value, Nicholas. We have no coin small enough to purchase you."