e bar, where, leaving his other guests to be attended to by
a niece of his, who officiated as his housekeeper, he would sit beside me
and talk of matters concerning "the ring," indulging himself with a cigar
and a glass of sherry, which he told me was his favourite wine, whilst I
drank my ale. "I loves the conversation of all you coves of the ring,"
said he once, "which is natural, seeing as how I have fought in a ring
myself. Ah, there is nothing like the ring; I wish I was not rather too
old to go again into it. I often think I should like to have another
rally--one more rally, and then--but there's a time for all things--youth
will be served, every dog has his day, and mine has been a fine one--let
me be content. After beating Tom of Hopton, there was not much more to
be done in the way of reputation; I have long sat in my bar the wonder
and glory of this here neighbourhood. I'm content, as far as reputation
goes; I only wish money would come in a little faster; however, the next
main of cocks will bring me in something handsome--comes off next
Wednesday, at ---, have ventured ten five-pound notes--shouldn't say
ventured either--run no risk at all, because why? I knows my birds."
About ten days after this harangue I called again, at about three o'clock
one afternoon. The landlord was seated on a bench by a table in the
common room, which was entirely empty; he was neither smoking nor
drinking, but sat with his arms folded, and his head hanging down over
his breast. At the sound of my step he looked up. "Ah," said he, "I am
glad you are come, I was just thinking about you." "Thank you," said I;
"it was very kind of you, especially at a time like this, when your mind
must be full of your good fortune. Allow me to congratulate you on the
sums of money you won by the main of cocks at ---. I hope you brought it
all safe home." "Safe home!" said the landlord; "I brought myself safe
home, and that was all; came home without a shilling, regularly done,
cleaned out." "I am sorry for that," said I; "but after you had won the
money, you ought to have been satisfied, and not risked it again--how did
you lose it? I hope not by the pea and thimble." "Pea and thimble,"
said the landlord--"not I; those confounded cocks left me nothing to lose
by the pea and thimble." "Dear me," said I; "I thought that you knew
your birds." "Well, so I did," said the landlord; "I knew the birds to
be good birds, and so they proved, and