Then with cynical satire, and many a scoff,

He called Mr. Peeler

A “ginger-pop dealer,”

And snapped out “Nicolo Scratchini’s my name,

And I’ll play Mr. Peeler a ten-thousand game;

And these points I will my opponent assign—

Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety and nine!

And the stakes——” here he whispered in Peeler’s left ear,

And that eminent cueist turned giddy with fear;

But covered the tip of his cue well with chalk,