The individual nodded and replaced his pipe.
“When did you come?”
“Last night,” answered the man in a thick voice. “And a werry queer look-out it is. Blowed if they’ve got any butter in this house!”
“What is the amount of the debt?”
“Twenty-three pun four and sevenpence,” said the man, removing his pipe to expectorate again. “Are you a creditor?”
“No,” answered Holdsworth, listening for Dolly’s footsteps.
“Then if you vent on your bended knees for gratitood you vouldn’t be overdoin’ it,” said the man, giving Holdsworth a sagacious nod. “There ain’t above ten pound in the house, and not that. Cast yer eye into that parler. The best of the goods is there, and if you can make three pound out of ’em, I’ll swaller my pipe.”
And then an idea smiting him:
“You ain’t come to have a tooth drawed, have yer?”
“No.”