Pot. A blasted old cheat!
J. N. (writing). “A blasted old cheat!” (Cheerfully) Go on.
Pot. Another time he was talking in a public-house with two men whom I understood to be members of the Fabian League. He was having words with them, and one of them said, “Ah, but you forget the rent of ability”; and he said, “Damn the rent of ability, I will smash their rents of abilities.”
Mr. H. Did you know what that meant?
Pot. No; not then.
Mr. H. But you do now?
Pot. Yes; for I got into conversation with one of them, who told me that it meant the brain, the skull.
J. N. (writing). “The rent of ability is a cant phrase in use among these people signifying the head.”
Mr. H. Well?
Pot. Well, then they laughed and said, Well, as far as he is concerned, smash it when you can catch it.