264 mr. 



you about our last night's " (ha — hem — haw !) " handicap, you know 

 — about the horse you know." 



"About the w-h-a-w-tV drawled Jack, as if perfectly ignorant 

 of what Pacey was talking about. 



" About the horse, you know — about Mr. Sponge's horse, you 

 know — that you got me to challenge for you, you know," stammered 

 Pacey. 



" Oh, dash it, the chap's drunk," growled Jack aloud to himself; 

 adding to Pacey, " you shouldn't get up so soon, man — sleep the 

 drink off." 



Pacey stood nonplussed. 



"Don't you remember, Mr. Spraggon," at last asked he, after 

 watching the tassel of Jack's cap peeping above the bedclothes, 

 " what took place last night, you know ? You asked me to get you 

 Mr. Sponge's chestnut, and you know I did, you know." 



" Hout, lad, disperse ! — get out of this ! " exclaimed Jack, start- 

 ing his great red face above the bedclothes, and squinting frightfully 

 at Pacey. 



" Well, my dear friend, but you did," observed Pacey, sooth- 



" Nonsense ! " roared Jack, again ducking under. 



Pacey stood agape. 



"Come!" exclaimed Jack, again starting up, " cut your stick! 

 — be off ! — make yourself scarce ! — give your rags a gallop, in 

 short ! — don't be after disturbin' a gen'leman of fortin's rest in this 

 way." 



" But, my dear Mr. Spraggon," resumed Pacey, in the same gen- 

 tle tone, " you surely forget what you asked me to do." 



" / do," replied Jack, firmly. 



" Well, but, my dear Mr. Spraggon, if you'll have the kindness 

 to recollect — to consider — to reflect on what passed, you'll surely 

 remember commissioning me to challenge Mr. Sponge's horse for 

 you ? " 



" Me ! " exclaimed Jack, bouncing up in bed, and sitting squint- 

 ing furiously. " Me ! " repeated he ; " w,??possible. How could / 

 do such a thing ? Why, I handicap'd him, man, for you, man." 



" You told me, for all that," replied Mr. Pacey, with a jerk of 

 the head. 



" Oh, by Jove ! " exclaimed Jack, taking his cap by the tassel, 

 and twisting it off his head, " that won't do! — downright impeach- 

 ment of one's integrity. Oh, by Jingo ! that won't do ! " motioning 

 as if he was going to bounce out of bed ; can't stand that — impeach 

 one's integrity, you know, better take one's life, you know. Life 

 without honour's nothin,' you know. Cock pheasant at Weybridge, 

 six o'clock i' the mornin' ! " 



" Oh, I assure you, I didn't mean anything of that sort," ex- 





