第103章

amalmostsureIshouldhavetheadvantage，for，asyouveryproperlyobserved，“Youthwillbeserved。“’’Oh，Ididn’tmeantofight，’saidthelandlord；’IthinkIcouldbeatyouifIweretotrainalittle；butinthefightIproposeIlooksmoretothemainchancethananythingelse。IquestionwhetherhalfsomanypeoplecouldbebroughttogetherifyouweretofightwithmeasthepersonIhaveinview，orwhethertherewouldbehalfsuchopportunitiesforbetting，forIamaman，doyousee；thepersonI

wantsyoutofightwithisnotaman，buttheyoungwomanyoukeepscompanywith。’

’TheyoungwomanIkeepcompanywith，’saidI；’praywhatdoyoumean？’

’Wewillgointothebar，andhavesomething，’saidthelandlord，gettingup。’Mynieceisout，andthereisnooneinthehouse，sowecantalkthematteroverquietly。’ThereuponIfollowedhimintothebar，where，havingdrawnmeajugofale，helpedhimselfasusualtoaglassofsherry，andlightedacigar，heproceededtoexplainhimselffurther。’WhatIwantsistogetupafightbetweenamanandawoman；thereneverhasyetbeensuchathinginthering，andthemerenoiseofthematterwouldbringthousandsofpeopletogether，quiteenoughtodrinkout，forthethingshouldbeclosetomyhouse，allthebrewer’sstockofliquids，bothgoodandbad。’’But，’saidI，’youweretheotherdayboastingoftherespectabilityofyourhouse；doyouthinkthatafightbetweenamanandawomanclosetoyourestablishmentwouldaddtoitsrespectability？’’Confoundtherespectabilityofmyhouse，’saidthelandlord；’willtherespectabilityofmyhousepaythebrewer，orkeeptheroofovermyhead？No，no!whenrespectabilitywon’tkeepaman，doyousee，thebestthingistoletitgoandwander。

Onlyletmehavemyownway，andboththebrewer，myself，andeveryoneofus，willbesatisfied。Andthenthebetting-whatadealwemaymakebythebetting-andthatweshallhavealltoourselves，you，I，andtheyoungwoman；thebrewerwillhavenohandinthat。Icanmanagetoraisetenpounds，andifbyflashingthataboutIdon’tmanagetomakeahundred，callmehorse。’’Butsuppose，’saidI，’thepartyshouldlose，onwhomyousportyourmoney，evenasthebirdsdid？’’Wemustfirstmakeallright，’

saidthelandlord，’asItoldyoubefore；thebirdswereirrationalbeings，andthereforecouldn’tcometoanunderstandingwiththeothers，asyouandtheyoungwomancan。Thebirdsfoughtfair；butIintendthatyouandtheyoungwomanshouldfightcross。’’Whatdoyoumeanbycross？’saidI。’Come，come，’saidthelandlord，’don’tattempttogammonme；youinthering，andpretendnottoknowwhatfightingcrossis!Thatwon’tdo，myfinefellow；butasnooneisnearus，Iwillspeakout。Iintendthatyouandtheyoungwomanshouldunderstandoneanother，andagreebeforehandwhichshouldbebeat；andifyoutakemyadvice，youwilldeterminebetweenyouthattheyoungwomanshallbebeat，asIamsurethattheoddswillrunhighuponher，hercharacterasafist-womanbeingspreadfarandwide，sothatalltheflatswhothinkitwillbeallrightwillbackher，asImyselfwould，ifIthoughtitwouldbeafairthing。’’Then，’saidI，’youwouldnothaveusfightfair？’’Bynomeans，’saidthelandlord，’becausewhy？-I

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