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a glass。’
He obeyed。 His patron followed him with his eyes； and when his
back was turned； smiled as he had never done when he stood
beside the mirror。 On his return he filled the glass； and bade him
drink。 That dram despatched； he poured him out another； and
another。
‘How many can you bear？’ he said； filling the glass again。
‘As many as you like to give me。 Pour on。 Fill high。 A bumper
with a bead in the middle！ Give me enough of this；’ he added； as
he tossed it down his hairy throat； ‘and I’ll do murder if you ask
me！’
‘As I don’t mean to ask you； and you might possibly do it
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without being invited if you went on much further；’ said Mr
Chester with great composure； we will stop； if agreeable to you；
my good friend； at the next glass。 You were drinking before you
came here。’
‘I always am when I can get it；’ cried Hugh boisterously； waving
the empty glass above his head； and throwing himself into a rude
dancing attitude。 ‘I always am。 Why not？ Ha ha ha！ What’s so good
to me as this？ What ever has been？ What else has kept away the
cold on bitter nights； and driven hunger off in starving times？
What else has given me the strength and courage of a man； when
men would have left me to die； a puny child？ I should never have
had a man’s heart but for this。 I should have died in a ditch。
Where’s he who when I was a weak and sickly wretch； with
trembling legs and fading sight； bade me cheer up； as this did？ I
never knew him； not I。 I drink to the drink； master。 Ha ha ha！’
‘You are an exceedingly cheerful young man；’ said Mr Chester；
putting on his cravat with great deliberation； and slightly moving
his head from side to side to settle his chin in its proper place。
‘Quite a boon companion。’
‘Do you see this hand； master；’ said Hugh； ‘and this arm？’
baring the brawny limb to the elbow。 ‘It was once mere skin and
bone； and would have been dust in some poor churchyard by this
time； but for the drink。’
‘You may cover it；’ said Mr Chester； ‘it’s sufficiently real in your
sleeve。’
‘I should never have been spirited up to take a kiss from the
proud little beauty； master； but for the drink；’ cried Hugh。 ‘Ha ha
ha！ It was a good one。 As sweet as honeysuckle； I warrant you。 I
thank the drink for it。 I’ll drink to the drink again； master。 Fill me
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one more。 Come。 One more！’
‘You are such a promising fellow；’ said his patron； putting on
his waistcoat with great nicety； and taking no heed of this request；
‘that I must caution you against having too many impulses from
the drink； and getting hung before your time。 What’s your age？’
‘I don’t know。’
‘At any rate；’ said Mr Chester； ‘you are young enough to escape
what I may call a natural death for some years to come。 How can
you trust yourself in my hands on so short an acquaintance； with a
halter round your neck？ What a confiding nature yours must be！’
Hugh fell back a pace or two and surveyed him with a look of
mingled terror； indignation； and surprise。 Regarding himself in
the glass with the same complacency as before； and speaking as
smoothly as if he were discussing some pleasant chit…chat of the
town； his patron went on：
‘Robbery on the king’s highway； my young friend； is a very
dangerous and ticklish occupation。 It is pleasant； I have no doubt；
while it lasts； but like many other pleasures in this transitory
world； it seldom lasts long。 And really if in the ingenuousness of
youth； you open your heart so readily on the subject； I am afraid
your career will be an extremely short one。’
‘How’s this？’ said Hugh。 ‘What do you talk of master？ Who was
it set me on？’
‘Who？’ said Mr Chester； wheeling sharply round； and looking
full at him for the first time。 ‘I didn’t hear you。 Who was it？’
Hugh faltered； and muttered something which was not audible。
‘Who was it？ I am curious to know；’ said Mr Chester； with
surpassing affability。 ‘Some rustic beauty perhaps？ But be
cautious； my good friend。 They are not always to be trusted。 Do
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take my advice now； and be careful of yourself。’ With these words
he turned to the glass again； and went on with his toilet。
Hugh would have answered him that he； the questioner himself
had set him on； but the words stuck in his throat。 The
consummate art with which his patron had led him to this point；
and managed the whole conversation； perfectly baffled him。 He
did not doubt that if he had made the retort which was on his lips
when Mr Chester turned round and questioned him so keenly； he
would straightway have given him into custody and had him
dragged before a justice with the stolen property upon him； in
which case it was as certain he would have been hung as it was
that he had been born。 The ascendency which it was the purpose
of the man of the world to establish over this savage instrument；
was gained from that time。 Hugh’s submission was complete。 He
dreaded him beyond description； and felt that accident and
artifice had spun a web about him； which at a touch from such a
master…hand as his； would bind him to the gallows。
With these thoughts passing through his mind； and yet
wondering at the very same time how he who came there rioting
in the confidence of this man （as he thought）； should be so soon
and so thoroughly subdued； Hugh stood cowering before him；
regarding him uneasily from time to time； while he finished
dressing。 When he had done so； he took up the letter； broke