"
"If 'e didn't," cried the old man, "I'll punch 'im on the nose so 'e
won't never smell nothink no more."
"Sir," said Joe, "in the first round p'raps I did go a bit easylike, but
arter that I came at you as 'ard an' 'eavy as I could. I 'it you where
an' 'ow I could, barrin' your face."
"I hope I shall soon be good enough for you to go for my face as well,
Joe."
"But, sir--if I give you a black eye--"
"How will--say, ten dollars do?"
"Ten dollars! For blacking your eye, sir?"
"Lumme, Joe!" cried the Old Un, "get back into the ring and black 'em
both--"
"Shut up!" said Joe, scowling down into the Old Un's eager face, "you
'eartless old bloodsucker, you!"
"Bloodsucker!" screamed the old man, "w'ot, me? I'll punch you on the
ear-'ole, Joe, so's you never 'ear nothin' no more."
"Are you on, Joe?" asked Ravenslee, while the Old Un, swearing softly,
unlaced his gloves.
"But, crumbs, sir--axin' your pardon, things'll come a bit expensive,
won't they? Y' see--"
"So much the better, ye blighted perisher!" snarled the Old Un, "an'
don't forget as the Guv owes you thirty dollars a'ready--an' 'arves,
mind.
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