He has a singularly good selection. The florid
nymph was reserved and coy at first, but as the wine mounted she rather
astonished me by her choice of expletives. The merry one had become
business-like, and that sweet smile was gone. As I looked at him I
gradually understood that I had once more made a fool of myself, and I
vowed that if I got out safely I would go to The Chequers no more.
Over-confidence is a bad fault in a prize-fighter: it is worse than that
in the case of a man who wishes to hold his own among London sharps.
Blackey had the best of me, and now I was in for a much worse business,
Jerry the Amiable drank ostentatiously, and he was evidently priming
himself; the sister waxed effusive, and the aunt took care that the
points were steadily increased. In the early morning the Amiable
suggested that I should stay, but I would not have slept under the same
roof with him for gold. He then ordered his relatives off to bed, and
they slunk away rather like dogs than ladies. Jerry was a masterful man.
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