I should like to try him. But first of all
I have another customer to dispose of. I have just determined to send a
challenge to Bishop Sharpe whom these English call the best of their
light weights. {235} Perhaps he is, but if I don't--"

"The Bishop is a good man," interrupted his companion of the greatcoat
and glazed hat, in a strange croaky tone.

"Is it a good man that you are calling him?" said the captain. "Well, be
it so; the more merit in my baiting him."

"That's true; but you have not beat him yet," said his companion.

"Not bate him yet? Is not there the paper that I am going to write the
challenge on? and is not there the pen and the ink that I am going to
write it with? and is not there yourself, John Turner, my hired servant,
that's bound to take him the challenge when 'tis written?"

"That's true; here we are all four--pen, ink, paper, and John Turner; but
there's something else wanted to beat Bishop Sharpe."

"What else is wanted?" shouted the captain.

"Why, to be a better man than he."

"And ain't I that man?"

"Why, that remains to be seen."

"Ain't I an Irishman?"

"Yes, I believe you to be an Irishman. No one, to hear you talk, but
would think you that, or a Frenchman. I was in conversation with one of
that kind the other day. Hearing him talk rather broken, I asked him
what countryman he was. 'What countryman are you?' said I.--'I?' said
he, 'I am one Frenchman,' and then he looked at me as if I should sink
into the earth under his feet.--'You are not the better for that,' said
I; 'you are not the better for being a Frenchman, I suppose,' said
I.--'How?' said he; 'I am of the great nation which has won all the
battles in the world.'--'All the battles in the world?' said I. 'Did you
ever hear of the battle of Waterloo?' said I. You should have seen how
blue he looked. 'Ah! you can't get over that,' said I; 'you can't get
over the battle of Waterloo,' said I."

"Is it the battle of Waterloo you are speaking of, you spalpeen? And to
one who was there, an Irish cavalier, fighting in the ranks of the brave
French! By the powers! if the sacrifice would not be too great, I would
break this pipe in your face."

"Why, as to that, two can play at that," said he of the glazed hat,
smoking on very composedly. "I remember I once said so to young Cope--you
have heard of young Cope. I was vally to young Cope and servant of all
work twenty year ago at Brighton. So one morning after