Of a Meeting near Fulham
His gaze shifted to me slowly, and he regarded me with a silent scrutiny. I was in the full light, and he might observe every galoon and buckle upon me. But, calm as he was, I was not to be browbeat by his insolence, and so, without further ado, I jogged the nag a step nearer, and says I, drawing my hanger—
“Well,” I says, “an’ you have observed my horsemanship with so much commendation, “Sink me, but you shall have the occasion to test my passados also.”
“Nay, nay,” he says, laughing a little, “but I will take the rest of your reputation on trust, and without any test. ’Tis a point with me to trespass on no man’s calling.”
I looked at him in suspicion, but somehow the humour of his voice assuaged me. Yet I was not going to yield upon the impulse to any current stranger that might punch a hole through me when my back was turned; and so I came still a step nearer, and,
“So be you are honest,” said I. “Let us see old Oliver on your face.”
There was a moment’s hesitation ere he
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