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Runciman, James, 1852-1891

"The Chequers Being the Natural History of a Public-House, Set Forth in a Loafer's Diary"

All these things
I knew in a vague way, but Jerry has made my knowledge definite and
secure.
As for the man himself, I soon found that his "private means" were taken
in various ways from other people's pockets. During a chat, he said,
"You know you're not what you pretend to be. You hang about there, and
you bet, but you never bet enough to make anything at it. You must have
the coins, for I've seen you spend a quid in two hours in the
skittle-alley. But you don't seem to best anybody. What _is_ your game?
You may as well tell me."
"I amuse myself in my own way, and I don't care to let the school know
much about me."
"Well, my game's very simple. Only a juggins or a horse ever works, and
I don't intend to do any. It's just as easy to be idle as not. You take
the fellows in town that make their living after dark, and you always
see them having good times. There's some red-hot ones up--you know
where--in Piccadilly; they never get about till close on dinner time,
but they make up for lost time when they _are_ about.


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