Galloping Dick
wonder; and with that I knew that I was taken up with a wrong notion, and I drew up mighty sudden, as you may fancy. Presently his eyes fell, and with an indifferent lift of his shoulders he resumed his guttling. It tickled me so to see his unhandsome gestures and his lumpish manner at table that, though I was ruffled by my rebuff and was casting about for some new gate, I could not refrain from laughter. I dropped my glass and chuckled forthright. At which he started again.
“What the Devil?” says he savagely. “Gad’s my life, may a gentleman not pass his meal in peace, but you must bawl him out of comfort?”
“Rot me,” says I, opening my eyes, and with some choler. “Here’s a pretty piece of insolence. And may a gentleman not hug a jest with himself, but must go forth, forsooth, and split himself among the dogs? Stab me,” says I, “my young gentleman, you will neither be merry with me, nor suffer me to be merry alone.”
He stared at me, as though about to retort upon me, but apparently thinking better of his
52
