of species is precisely what is not
in the book. So we argued about the origin of gold, but we could get
nowhere near it.

When the rest of the company had retired, Jack observed to me: "You
put down that Adelaide chap gradely; he had not a leg to stand on."

I was pleased to find that Jack knew a good argument when he heard
it, so I rewarded his intelligence with another glass of brandy, and
asked him if he had been long in the colonies. He said:

"My name's not Jack; that's what they call me, but it doesn't matter
what my name is. I was brought up in Liverpool, but I wasn't born
there; that doesn't matter either. I used to work at the docks, was
living quite respectable, was married and had a little son about five
years old. One night after I had had supper and washed myself, I
said to th' missus, 'There's a peep-show i' Tithebarn Street, and if
you'll wash Bobby's face I'll tek him there; its nobbut a penny.'
You know it was one o' them shows where they hev pictures behind a
piece o' calico, Paul Pry with his umbrella, Daniel i' th' lions'
den, ducks swimming across a river, a giantess who was a man shaved
and dressed in women's clothes, a dog wi' five legs, and a stuffed
mermaid--just what little lads would like. There was a man,
besides, who played on a flute, and another singing funny songs. When
I went outside into the street there was little Billy Yates, as used
to play with Bobby, so I says, 'Come along, Billy, and I'll tek thee
to the show.' When we got there we set down on a bench, and, just as
they began to show th' pictures, three black-fellows came in and set
down on th' bench before us. They thowt they were big swells, and had
on black coats, white shirts, stiff collars up to their ears, red and
green neck-handkerchers, and bell-topper hats; so I just touched one
of em on th' showder and said: 'Would you please tek your hats off
to let th' lads see th' pictures?' Well, the nigger just turned his
head half-round, and looked at me impudent like, but he kept his hat
on. So I asked him again quite civil, and he called me a low fellow,
towld me to mind my own business, and the other two niggers grinned.
Well, you know, I could not stand that. I knew well enough what they
were. They were stewards on the liners running between New York and
Liverpool, and they were going round trying to pass for swells in a
penny peep-show. I didn't want to make a row just then and spoil the
show, so I said to t