Watch, now!" Hereupon the Bo'sun removed the glazed hat, held
it to his hairy ear, shook it, nodded, and from somewhere in its
interior took out and held up three letters.
"D'ye see those, my lad?" he inquired.
_The Gentleman-in-Powder_ (haughtily). "I ain't blind!"
_Timbertoes_. "Why then--you'll know what they are, p'raps?"
_The Gentleman-in-Powder_ (witheringly). "Nor I ain't a fool, neether."
_Timbertoes_ (dubiously). "Ain't you, though?"
_The Gentleman-in-Powder_ (legs again noticeably agitated). "No, I
ain't. I've got all _my_ faculties about _me_."
_Timbertoes_ (shaking head incredulously). "Ah! but where do you stow
'em away?"
_The Gentleman-in-Powder_ (legs convulsed). "And--wot's more, I've got
my proper amount o' limbs too!"
_Timbertoes_. "Limbs? If it's legs you're meaning, I should say as
you'd got more nor your fair share,--you're all legs, you are! Why,
Lord! you're grow'd to legs so surprising, as I wonder they don't
walk off with you, one o'these here dark nights, and--lose you!"
But at this juncture came Peterby, sedate, grave, soft of voice as
became a major-domo and the pink of a gentleman's gentleman, before
whose quick bright eye the legs of the Gentleman-in-Powder grew, as
it were, suddenly abashed, and to whom the Bo'sun, having made a leg,
forthwith addressed himself.
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