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lifetime；〃 concluded the ill…omened one； and at the recollection a sudden
and even more highly…sustained frenzy of self…unpopularity involving him；
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without a pause he addressed himself by seven and twenty insulting
expressions； many of which were quite new to my understanding。
At the earliest mention of the details affecting the loss； the elbow of
the person who had made himself responsible for the financial obligation
of the day propelled itself against my middle part； and unseen by the other
he indicated to me by means of his features that the entertainment was
becoming one of agreeable prepossession。
〃Now； touching this hyer wallet；〃 he said presently。 〃How might you
describe it？〃
〃In colour it was red； and within were two compartments； the one
containing three score notes each of ten pounds； the other fifty pounds of
gold。 But what's the use of describing it？ Some lucky demon will pick it
up and pocket the lot； and I shall never see a cent of it again。〃
〃Then you'd better consult one who reburnishes the eyes；〃 declared the
magnanimous one with a laugh； and drawing forth the article referred to
he cast it towards the merchant in a small way。
At this point of the narrative my thoroughly incompetent brush
confesses the proportions of the requirement to be beyond its most
extended limit； and many very honourable details are necessarily left
without expression。
〃I've known men of all sorts； good； bad； and bothwise；〃 exclaimed the
one who had recovered his possessions； 〃but I never thought to meet a
gent as would hand over six hundred and fifty pounds as if it was a
toothpick。 Sir； it overbalances me； it does； indeed。〃
〃Say no more about it；〃 urged the first person； and to suggest
gracefully that the incident had reached its furthest extremity； he began to
set out the melody of an unspoken verse。
〃I will say no more； then；〃 he replied； 〃but you cannot reasonably
prevent my doing something to express my gratitude。 If you are not too
proud you will come and partake of food and wine with me beneath the
sign of the Funereal Male Cow； and to show my confidence in you I shall
insist upon you carrying my pocket…book。〃
The person whom I had first encountered suffered his face to become
excessively amused。 〃Say； stranger； do you take me for a pack…mule？〃 he
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replied good…naturedly。 〃I already have about as much as I want to handle。
Never mind； we'll come along with you； and Mr。 Kong shall carry your
bullion。〃
At this delicate and high…minded proposal a rapid change； in no way
complimentary to my explicit habit of adequately conducting any venture
upon which I may be engaged； came over the face of the second person。
〃Sir；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I have nothing to say against this gentleman； but
I am under no obligation to him； and I don't see why I should trust him
with everything I possess。〃
〃Stranger；〃 exclaimed the other rising to his feet （and from this point it
must be understood that the various details succeeded one another with a
really agile dexterity）； 〃let me tell you that Mr。 Kong is my friend； and that
ought to be enough。〃
〃It is。 If you say this gentleman is your friend； and that you have
known him long and intimately enough to be able to answer for him； that's
good enough for me。〃
〃Well；〃 admitted the first person； and I could not conceal from myself
that his tone was inauspiciously reluctant； 〃I can't exactly say that I've
known him long； in fact I only met him half an hour ago。 But I have the
fullest confidence in his integrity。〃
〃It's just as I expected。 Well； sir； you're good…natured enough for
anything； but if you'll excuse me； I must say that you're a small piece of an
earthenware vessel after all〃the veiled allusion doubtlessly being that the
vessel of necessity being broken； the contents inevitably escape〃and I
hope you're not being had。〃
〃I'm not； and I'll prove it before we go out together；〃 retorted the
engaging one； who had in the meantime become so actively impetuous on
my account； that he did not remain content with the spoken words； but
threw the various belongings about as he mentioned them in a really
profuse display of inimitable vehemence。 〃Here； Kong； take this hyer
pocket…book whatever he says。 Now on the top of that take everything I've
got； and you know what THAT figures up to。 Now give this gentleman
your little lot to keep him quiet； I don't ask for anything。 Now； stranger；
I'm ready。 You and I will take a stroll round the block and back again； and
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if Mr。 Kong isn't waiting here for us when we return with everything intact
and O。K。； I'll double your deposit and never trust a durned soul again。〃
Nodding genially over his shoulder with a harmonious understanding；
expressive of the fact that we were embarking upon an undeniably
diverting episode； the benevolent…souled person who had accumulated
more riches than he was competent to melt away himself； passed out；
urging the doubtful and still protesting one before him。
Thus abandoned to my own reflections； I pondered for a short time
profitably on the third head of the day's meditation （Touching the match
and this person's unattractively…lined face。 The revealed truth： the
inexperienced sheep cannot pass through the hedge without leaving
portions of his wool）； and then finding the philosophy of Wei Chung very
good； I determined to remove the superfluous apprehensions of the vender
of food…stuffs with less delay by setting out and meeting them on their
return。
A few paces distant from the door； one of the ever…present watchers of
the street was standing； watching the street with unremitting vigilance；
while from the well…guarded expression of his face it might nevertheless
be gathered that he stood as though in expectation。
〃Prosperity；〃 I said； with se