"So it's--you, is it?" he demanded.
"Yes," said Barnabas, and stood up.
"So--you're--back again, are you?"
"Thank you, yes," said Barnabas, "and quite safe!"
"S-safe?"
"As yet," answered Barnabas.
"You aren't d-drunk, are you?"
"No," said Barnabas, "nor are you, for once."
Barrymaine clenched his fists and took a step towards Barnabas, but
spying the bargeman, who now lurched forward, turned upon him in a
fury.
"What the d-devil d' you want? Get out of the way, d' ye hear?--get
out, I say!"
"Axing your pardon, sir, an' meaning no offence, but summat was said
about a bob, sir--vun shilling!"
"Damnation! Give the fellow his s-shilling, Dig, and then k-kick him
out."
Hereupon Mr. Smivvle, having felt through his pockets, slowly
produced the coin demanded, and handing it to the bargeman, pointed
to the door.
"No,--see him downstairs--into the street, Dig. And you needn't
hurry back, I'm going to speak my mind to this f-fellow--once and
for all! So l-lock the street door, Dig."
Mr. Smivvle hesitated, glanced at Barnabas, shrugged his shoulders
and followed the bargeman out of the room.
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