mr. sponge's sporting tour. 363 



CHAPTER LIX. 



THE ADJOURNED DEBATE. 



The fatal invitation of Mr. Sponge having been sent, the question 

 that now occupied the minds of the assembled sharpers at Nonsuch 

 House, was whether he was a " pigeon," or one of themselves. That 

 point occupied their very deep and serious consideration. If he was 

 a " pigeon," they could clearly accommodate him, but if, on the other 

 hand, he was one of themselves, it was painfully apparent that there 

 were far too many of them there already. Of course the subject 

 was not discussed in full and open conclave — they were all highly 

 honourable men in the gross — and it was only in the small and secret 

 groups of those accustomed to hunt together, and unburden their 

 minds, that the real truth was elicited. 



u What an ass Sir Harry is, to ask this Mr. Sponge," observed 

 Captain Quod to Captain Seedeybuck, as (cigar in mouth) they paced 

 backwards and forwards under the nagged verandah on the west side 

 of the house, on the morning that Sir Harry had announced his in- 

 tention of asking him. 



" Confounded ass," assented Seedeybuck, from between the whiffs 

 of his cigar. 



" Dash it ! one would think he had more money than he knew 

 what to do with," observed the first speaker, " instead of not knowing 

 wheretto lay hands on a halfpenny." 



" Soon be ivho-hoop here," observed Quod, with a shake of the 

 head. 



" Fear so," replied Seedeybuck. " Have you heard anything 

 fresh ? " 



" Nothing particular. The County Court bailiff was here with 

 some summonses, which, of course, he put in the fire." 



" Ah ! that's what he always does. He got tired of papering the 

 smoking-room with them," replied Seedeybuck. 



" Well, it's a pity," observed Quod, spitting as he spoke ; " but 

 what can you expect, eaten up as he is by such a set of rubbish ? " 



" Shockin'," replied Seedeybuck, thinking how long he and his 

 friend might have fattened there together. 



" Do you know anything of this Mr. Sponge ? " asked Captain 

 Quod, after a pause. 



" Nothin'," replied Seedeybuck, " except what we saw of him 

 here : but I'm sure he won't do." 



