“We might talk about it over a ’arf-pint,” he ses.
“No, thank you,” I ses. “I ’ad a ’arf-pint the day before yesterday, and I’m not thirsty.”
He stood there fidgeting about for a bit, and then he puts his ’and on my shoulder.
“Well, come to the end of the jetty,” he ses. “I’ve got something private to say.”
I got up slow-like and followed ’im. I wasn’t a bit curious. Not a bit. But if a man asks for my ’elp I always give it.
“It’s like this,” he ses, looking round careful, “only I don’t want the other chaps to hear because I don’t want to be laughed at. Last week an old uncle o’ mine died and left me thirty pounds. It’s just a week ago, and I’ve already got through five of ’em, and besides that the number of chaps that want to borrow ten bob for a couple o’ days would surprise you.”
“I ain’t so easy surprised,” I ses, shaking my ’ead.
“It ain’t safe with me,” he ses; “and the favour I want you to do is to take care of it for me. I know it’ll go if I keep it. I’ve got it locked up in this box. And if you keep the box I’ll keep the key, and when I want a bit I’ll come and see you about it.”
He pulled a little box out of ’is pocket and rattled it in my ear.
“There’s five-and-twenty golden goblins in there,” he ses. “If you take charge of ’em they’ll be all right. If you don’t, I’m pretty certain I sha’n’t ’ave one of ’em in a week or two’s time.”