58 The Wild-Fowlers 



the jolly trio reaching to deliver a pre- 

 tended blow, a pull of the coat, or some 

 such playful manoeuvre. Their table 

 was the liveliest in the chop-house, and 

 nearly everybody on the floor, it seemed, 

 knew them, talked about them, and 

 laughed when they laughed. Every 

 now and again some friend would pass 

 their corner, either in entering the place 

 or leaving it, and then there would be 

 general handshaking and much loud talk- 

 ing, so that the few new patrons prob- 

 ably visitors to the city scattered about, 

 who did not know them personally, 

 learned of them from those who enjoyed 

 their acquaintance or knew of them by 

 reputation. 



Few men could hear and see them 

 without feeling a desire to know them, or 

 at least know something about them, 

 and it was not uncommon to see waiters 

 here and there bending over their tables, 

 quietly enlightening their inquisitive 

 guests. 



