fine fellow; but
as no one is near us, I will speak out. I intend that you and the young
woman should understand one another, and agree beforehand which should be
beat; and if you take my advice, you will determine between you that the
young woman shall be beat, as I am sure that the odds will run high upon
her, her character as a fist-woman being spread far and wide, so that all
the flats who think it will be all right will back her, as I myself
would, if I thought it would be a fair thing.' 'Then,' said I, 'you
would not have us fight fair?' 'By no means,' said the landlord,
'because why?--I conceives that a cross is a certainty to those who are
in it, whereas by the fair thing one may lose all he has.' 'But,' said
I, 'you said the other day that you liked the fair thing.' 'That was by
way of gammon,' said the landlord; 'just, do you see, as a Parliament
cove might say, speechifying from a barrel to a set of flats, whom he
means to sell. Come, what do you think of the plan?'

'It is a very ingenious one,' said I.

'Ain't it?' said the landlord. 'The folks in this neighbourhood are
beginning to call me old fool; but if they don't call me something else,
when they sees me friends with the brewer, and money in my pocket, my
name is not Catchpole. Come, drink your ale, and go home to the young
gentlewoman.'

'I am going,' said I, rising from my seat, after finishing the remainder
of the ale.

'Do you think she'll have any objection?' said the landlord.

'To do what?' said I.

'Why, to fight cross.'

'Yes, I do,' said I.

'But you will do your best to persuade her?'

'No, I will not,' said I.

'Are you fool enough to wish to fight fair?'

'No,' said I, 'I am wise enough to wish not to fight at all.'

'And how's my brewer to be paid?' said the landlord.

'I really don't know,' said I.

'I'll change my religion,' said the landlord.

CHAPTER NINETY-THREE

ANOTHER VISIT--A CLEVER MAN--ANOTHER STATUE

One evening Belle and myself received another visit from the man in
black. After a little conversation of not much importance, I asked him
whether he would not take some refreshment, assuring him that I was now
in possession of some very excellent Hollands, which, with a glass, a jug
of water, and a lump of sugar, was heartily at his service; he accepted
my offer, and Belle going with a jug to the spring, from which she was in
the habit of procuring water for tea, speedily returned with it fu