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dragons； and sometimes I would narrate to her other things far more
genuine … how I had tamed savage mares； wrestled with Satan； and
had dealings with ferocious publishers。 Belle had a kind heart；
and would weep at the accounts I gave her of my early wrestlings
with the dark Monarch。 She would sigh； too； as I recounted the
many slights and degradations I had received at the hands of
ferocious publishers； but she had the curiosity of a woman； and
once； when I talked to her of the triumphs which I had achieved
over unbroken mares； she lifted up her head and questioned me as to
the secret of the virtue which I possessed over the aforesaid
animals； whereupon I sternly reprimanded； and forthwith commanded
her to repeat the Armenian numerals； and； on her demurring； I made
use of words； to escape which she was glad to comply； saying the
Armenian numerals from one to a hundred； which numerals； as a
punishment for her curiosity； I made her repeat three times；
loading her with the bitterest reproaches whenever she committed
the slightest error； either in accent or pronunciation； which
reproaches she appeared to bear with the greatest patience。 And
now I have given a very fair account of the manner in which Isopel
Berners and myself passed our time in the dingle。
CHAPTER XCII
The landlord … Rather too old … Without a shilling … Reputation … A
fortnight ago … Liquids … The main chance … Respectability …
Irrational beings … Parliament cove … My brewer。
AMONGST other excursions； I went several times to the public…house
to which I introduced the reader in a former chapter。 I had
experienced such beneficial effects from the ale I had drunk on
that occasion； that I wished to put its virtue to a frequent test；
nor did the ale on subsequent trials belie the good opinion which I
had at first formed of it。 After each visit which I made to the
public…house； I found my frame stronger and my mind more cheerful
than they had previously been。 The landlord appeared at all times
glad to see me； and insisted that I should sit within the bar；
where； leaving his other guests to be attended to by a niece of
his； who officiated as his housekeeper； he would sit beside me and
talk of matters concerning 'the ring；' indulging himself with a
cigar and a glass of sherry； which he told me was his favourite
wine； whilst I drank my ale。 'I loves the conversation of all you
coves of the ring；' said he once； 'which is natural； seeing as how
I have fought in a ring myself。 Ah； there is nothing like the
ring； I wish I was not rather too old to go again into it。 I often
think I should like to have another rally … one more rally； and
then … but there's a time for all things … youth will be served；
every dog has his day； and mine has been a fine one … let me be
content。 After beating Tom of Hopton； there was not much more to
be done in the way of reputation； I have long sat in my bar the
wonder and glory of this here neighbourhood。 I'm content； as far
as reputation goes； I only wish money would come in a little
faster； however； the next main of cocks will bring me in something
handsome … comes off next Wednesday； at …； have ventured ten five…
pound notes … shouldn't say ventured either … run no risk at all；
because why？ I knows my birds。' About ten days after this
harangue I called again； at about three o'clock one afternoon。 The
landlord was seated on a bench by a table in the common room； which
was entirely empty； he was neither smoking nor drinking； but sat
with his arms folded； and his head hanging down over his breast。
At the sound of my step he looked up； 'Ah；' said he； 'I am glad you
are come； I was just thinking about you。' 'Thank you；' said I； 'it
was very kind of you； especially at a time like this； when your
mind must be full of your good fortune。 Allow me to congratulate
you on the sums of money you won by the main of cocks at …。 I hope
you brought it all safe home。' 'Safe home！' said the landlord； 'I
brought myself safe home； and that was all； came home without a
shilling； regularly done； cleaned out。' 'I am sorry for that；'
said I； 'but after you had won the money； you ought to have been
satisfied； and not risked it again … how did you lose it？ I hope
not by the pea and thimble。' 'Pea and thimble；' said the landlord
… 'not I； those confounded cocks left me nothing to lose by the pea
and thimble。' 'Dear me；' said I； 'I thought that you knew your
birds。' 'Well； so I did；' said the landlord； 'I knew the birds to
be good birds； and so they proved； and would have won if better
birds had not been brought against them； of which I knew nothing；
and so do you see I am done； regularly done。' 'Well；' said I；
'don't be cast down； there is one thing of which the cocks by their
misfortune cannot deprive you … your reputation； make the most of
that； give up cock…fighting； and be content with the custom of your
house； of which you will always have plenty； as long as you are the
wonder and glory of the neighbourhood。'
The landlord struck the table before him violently with his fist。
'Confound my reputation！' said he。 'No reputation that I have will
be satisfaction to my brewer for the seventy pounds I owe him。
Reputation won't pass for the current coin of this here realm； and
let me tell you； that if it ain't backed by some of it； it ain't a
bit better than rotten cabbage； as I have found。 Only three weeks
since I was； as I told you； the wonder and glory of the
neighbourhood； and people used to come to look at me； and worship
me； but as soon as it began to be whispered about that I owed money
to the brewer； they presently left off all that kind of thing； and
now； during the last three days； since the tale of my misfortune
with the cocks has got wind； almost everybody has left off coming
to the house； and the few who does； merely comes to insult and
flout me。 It was only last night that fellow； Hunter； called me an
old fool in my own kitchen here。 He wouldn't have called me a fool
a fortnight ago； 'twas I called him fool then； and last night he
called me old fool； what do you think of that？ … the man that beat
Tom of Hopton； to be called； not only a fool； but an old fool； and
I hadn't heart； with one blow of this here fist into his face； to
send his head ringing against the wall； for when a man's pocket is
low； do you see； his heart ain't much higher； but it is of no use
talking； something must be done。 I was thinking of you just as you
came in； for you are just the person that can help me。'
'If you mean；' said I； 'to ask me to lend you the money which you
want； it will be to no purpose； as I have very little of my own；
just enough for my own occasions； it is true； if you desired it； I
would be your intercessor with the person to whom you owe the
money； though I should hardly imagine that anything I could say … '
'You are right there；' said the landlord； 'much the brewer would
care for anything you could say on my behalf … your going would be
the very way to do me up entirely。 A pretty opinion he would have
of the state of my affairs if I were to send him such a 'cessor as
you； and as for your lending me money； don't think I was ever fool
enough to suppose either that you had any； or if you had that you
would be fool enough to lend me any。 No； no； the coves of the ring
knows better； I have been in the ring myself； and knows what a
fighting cove is； and though I was fool enough to back those birds；
I was never quite fool enough to lend anybody money。 What I am
about to propose is something very different from going to my
landlord； or lending any capital； something which； though it will
put money into my pocket； will likewise put something handsome into
your own。 I want to get up a fight in this here neighbourhood；
which would be sure to bring plenty of people to my house； for a
week before and after it takes place； and as people can't come
without drinking； I think I could； during one fortnight； get off
for the brewer all the sour and unsaleable liquids he now has；
which people wouldn't drink at any other time； and by that means；
do you see； liquidate my debt； then； by means of betting； making
first all right； do you see； I have no doubt that I could put
something handsome into my pocket and yours； for I should wish you
to be the fighting man； as I think I can depend upon you。' 'You
really must excuse me；' said I； 'I have no wish to figure as a
pugilist； besides； there is such a difference in our ages； you may
be the stronger man of the two； and perhaps the hardest hitter； but
I am in much better condition； am more active on my legs； so that I
am almost sure I should have the advantage； for； as you very
properly observed； 〃Youth will be served。〃' 'Oh； I didn't mean to
fight；' said the landlor