epeated the languid William. "Such a waist! Such
dem'd, see-doocing, roguish eyes, begad!"

"Ah, and she knows it too!" piped Horace, "not a civil word for e'er a
one on us, let alone a kiss or a sly squeeze! And why----?"

"Because," drawled Joseph, shaking sleek head, "because--since you ask
me, I answer you as she is meat for her betters--her master,
belike--the Major with the game leg--Squire d'Arcy of the Manor."

The Sergeant glanced into his tankard, found therein a few frothy
drops, spilled them carefully upon the floor and hurled the empty
vessel at the last speaker. Fortunately for himself the discreet
Joseph moved at that moment and the heavy missile, hurtling past his
ear, caught the long-nosed Horace in the waistcoat and floored him.
Whirling about, Joseph was amazed to see the Sergeant advancing swiftly
and with evident intent, and the next moment all was riot and uproar.
Over crashed the table, chairs and their occupants were scattered right
and left and there rose a cloud of dust that grew ever thicker wherein
two forms, fiercely-grappled, writhed and smote and twisted.

And, after some while, the dust subsiding a little, the startled
company beheld Sergeant Zebedee Tring sitting astride his antagonist
who writhed feebly and groaned fitfully. Seated thus the Sergeant
proceeded to re-settle his neat wig which had shed much of its powder,
to tuck up his ruffles and to dust the marks of combat from his
garments; having done which to his satisfaction and recovered his wind
meantime, he addressed the gaping company.

"One o' you sons o' dirt bring me my hat!" The article in question
being promptly handed to him, he put it on, with due care for the curls
of his wig and glared round upon each of the spectators in turn:

"Now if," said he at last, "if there's any other vermin-rogue has got
aught to say agin his betters, two in particular, I shall be happy to
tear his liver out and kick same through winder! Is there now?"

Ensued a silence broken only by a faint groaning from the obsequious
Joe; whereupon the Sergeant proceeded:

"You will all o' you notice as I'm sitting on this here piece o' filth
as is shaped like a man--I don't like to, but I do it because he won't
stand up and fight, if he would--ah, if he only would, I'd have his
liver so quick as never was, d'ye see, because he spoke dirt regarding
two o' the sweetest, noblest folk as brightens this here dark world.
Further and moreover I, n