Last year they tore a welsher pretty
nigh to pieces, and this year, if you don't 'part,' they'll do it
quite."
The book-maker turned livid,--I never saw a man in such a funk in my
life,--and produced a greasy pocket-book, out of which he took Richard's
bank-note, and ten quite new ones; and I noticed there were more left,
so that poverty was not his excuse for fraud.
"Let me look at 'em against the sun," said the farmer, "to see as the
water-mark is all right."
This was a precaution I should never have thought of, and it gave me
for the first time a sense of the great intelligence of my father's
parishioner.
"Yes, they're all correct. And now you may go; but if ever you show your
face again on Southick (Southwick) race-course it will be the worst for
you."
He slunk away, and we returned to Richard, who was sitting on the
ground, looking at his nose, which was bleeding and had attained vast
dimensions.
"Did you get the money?" were his first words, which I thought very
characteristic.
"Yes, there it is, squire--ten fivers and your own note."
"Very good; I should never have seen a shilling of it but for you and
Charley, so we will just divide it into three shares."
The farmer said, "No," but eventually took his L16 13s.
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