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Tom having returned thanks in the same laughing style that Dick proposed his health, and bade farewell to the lighter follies of bachelorship for the more serious ones of wedlock, the road was now open for any one who was vocally inclined. Dick asked one or two, who said they were not within a bottle of their singing-point yet, but Tom Durfy was sure his friend the colonel would favour them.
As soon as words came he snarled, "Ho! is it that you mean, my beauty? All right, we'll see who's master here; and if I am, I'm sorry for you." And he turned on his heel and went. "You've done it now," said "Magog," in an agitated whisper "done it clean." "Done what?" asked Reginald. "Done it with Durfy. He will make it hot for you, and no mistake.
"You'd find it past a joke if you found yourself neck-and-crop in the gutter in two minutes," said Mr Shanklin, in a rage, "as you will do if you don't take care." "I'll take care for fifty pounds," said Durfy. "It's precious little share I've had out of the business, and if you want me mum, that's what will do it. There, I could tell you a thing or two already; you don't know " "Tush!
"When did you ever not miss it?" "How can I help it, when it's your own secretary is dogging me?" "Bless you! think of him dogging any one, the innocent! Anyhow, we can cut off his letters home for a bit, so as to give you no excuse next time." "And what's the next job to be, then?" asked Durfy. "The most particular of all," replied the sporting man.
"I started to go, but Durfy broke out, this time in tones of sincere terror, "`Don't do that, don't ruin me! I did take it, but "`Give it to me then. "`I can't. I've eaten it! "Wasn't this a thunderbolt! How were we to prove whose the letter was? Wild thoughts of a stomach-pump, or soap and warm water, did flash through my mind, but what was the use?
"Perhaps we'd better not talk about it now," said Reginald, feeling very uncomfortable and rather disconcerted at this glib flow of penitence. But young Gedge was full of it yet, and went on, "I'm going to turn over a new leaf this very day, Cruden. I've told the errand-boy he's not to get me any beer, and I'm determined next time that beast Durfy asks me to go "
The reader must forgive me if I ask him to leave the two lads to walk to Dull Street by themselves, while he accompanies me in the wake of the outraged and mud-stained Mr Durfy. That gentleman was far more wounded in his mind than in his person.
But Reginald was too sick at heart and disgusted to care what became of himself, as long as Mr Durfy's odious voice ceased to torment his ears. The only thing he did care about was what was to become of Horace. Was he to be put in charge of some one too, or was he to remain a printer's devil? Mr Durfy soon answered that question.
How he would have liked to knock the idiot down, just as he had knocked Durfy down that night when young Gedge Ah, another point here and another swerve. Would Horace be sure and keep his eye on the young 'un, and was there any chance of getting him down to Liverpool? Once more a swerve, and this time into a straight reach of meditation for miles and miles ahead. He thought of everything.
One of them has a little bill for fifty pounds coming due in a fortnight, and t'other well, he wagered me a hundred pounds on a horse that never ran for the Leger, and he's got one or two trifles besides down in my books." "Yes, I got you that tip about the Leger," said Durfy, beginning to think himself neglected in this dialogue of self-congratulation.
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