'I'll fight you
for first blood, since you seem to make so much work about it. If
you tap my claret first, there are five guineas for you, and I'll
go with you to any squire you choose to mention. If I tap yours,
you'll perhaps let on that I'm the better man, and allow me to go
about my lawful business at my own time and convenience, by God; is
that fair, my lads?' says I, appealing to the company.
'Ay, ay,' said the chorus of chawbacons; 'he can't say no fairer
nor that, he can't. Take off thy coat master!'
The limb of the law was now on the wrong side of public opinion,
and, what heartened me to go on, the position was rapidly changing
in our favour. Already the Major was paying his shot to the very
indifferent landlord, and I could see the white face of King at the
back-door, making signals of haste.
'Oho!' quoth my enemy, 'you are as full of doubles as a fox, are
you not? But I see through you; I see through and through you.
You would change the venue, would you?'
'I may be transparent, sir,' says I, 'but if you'll do me the
favour to stand up, you'll find I can hit dam hard.'
'Which is a point, if you will observe, that I had never called in
question,' said he. 'Why, you ignorant clowns,' he proceeded,
addressing the company, 'can't you see the fellow's gulling you
before your eyes? Can't you see that he has changed the point upon
me? I say he's a French prisoner, and he answers that he can box!
What has that to do with it? I would not wonder but what he can
dance, too--they're all dancing masters over there.
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